Studies on artificial breeding of Meretrix lyrata

We had studied the artificial breeding of Meretrix lyrata from May to September, 2010. The results show that it is best for its mature acceleration by adopting methods of bottom sowing culture in sand, ecological feeding and egg yolk, and 90.5% individuals have a coverage rate of gonads over 80%. It is best for its spawning inducement by adopting the methods of shade drying for 3 h and temperature rising by 4℃. The fertilization rate and hatching rate reach 89.7% and 92.3%, respectively. After being cultured in 3 outdoor pools for 7 d, the planktonic larvae enter period of metamorphosis, whose statocyst is big and apparent, with frequent foot movement. The average shell length (growth rate 8.34 md-1) and shell height (growth rate 8.77 md-1) of larvae are 176.2 m and 165.4m,respectively.With sand as the attachment substance, the larvae complete metamorphosis in 3 d, whose attaching rate of spats reaches 78.2%. Moreover, 1 293.6104 spats are cultured in 3 pools (25 m2) after 32 d, whose average shell length (growth rate 17.63 md-1) and shell height (growth rate 17.19 md-1) are 790 m and 758 m, respectively, with an average incubation rate of 61.6%.