Abstract: Five quantitative traits including shell length(x1), shell height(x2), shell width(x3), total height(x4), and body weight(y) were measured and statistically processed by correlation analysis, path analysis, and stepwise regression analysis in 120 individuals of one-year-old freshwater musselHyriopsiscumingii to evaluate the correlation between morphometrical characters and body weight. Results showed that there was significant Pearson correlation between morphological characters and body weight (P<0.01). Shell length had predominant direct effect (P1=0.479) and determinacy on body weight, while shell width and shell height showed indirectly affects body weight via shell length. The total decision coefficient of all morphological characters was found to be 0.933, indicating that the body weight are primarily dependent of these morphometrics, less impact of other factors. The shell length has the maximal impact on body weight, with total decision coefficient of 0.641, being the ideal target trait for selective breeding among these traits. The optimal regression equation of morphological characters on body weight was expressed asy=-157.919+12.195x1+5.266x2+22.613x3+4.920x4 by step wise regression analysis. The finding provides theoretical evidence and perfect measure targets for selective breeding of freshwater mussel.
2018, Vol. 33 
