Regulation of vitellogenesis in crab Oziothelphusa senex senex

Despite the growing magnitude of shellfish aquaculture in a worldwide context, explicit study on crab endocrinology in terms of growth and reproduction is lagging behind. It is necessary to modify the methods of crab culture to increase seed thereby protein production for enlarging human population. The crab O. senex senex, selected as a test animal due to its year-round availability, well known physiology and is popularly known as "poor man's protein". Endocrine manipulation of reproduction in crab can provide sufficient amount of seed for aquaculture. Hence the present work mainly concerns with the isolation and characterization of vitellogenin gene in crab and its regulation by different selected endocrine modulators. Among the tested endocrine modulators, methyl farnesoate is found the best to manipulate crustacean reproduction. This book presents a humble effort by the authors towards a better indulgent of the selected endocrine modulators on reproduction in crab and it provides a basis for further studies to promote reproduction and production of sufficient amount of seed with high potential to survive thereby protein from edible crustacean species.