Characterization of Different Spawning Conditions in Freshwater Pearl Mussel Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)

The freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginalis is a prolific breeder. The degree and number of spawning phase differ significantly from one population to another. For development of a simple and practical approach of induced spawning the present study was attempted with selected physical treatments viz., heat, cold, alternate heat and cold shocks, and chemical treatments viz., aqueous solution of H₂O₂, NaOH, Tris Buffer and NH₄OH. The physical treatments were found to be better in terms of spawning, higher larval survival and longer duration of larval viability compared to the chemical stimulus.