11th Jul 2019 12:46
(Alliance News) - Benchmark Holdings PLC on Thursday said it has identified a section of DNA linked with resistance to Streptococcus iniae infection in tilapia fish.
Shares in Benchmark were up 4.4% at 52.70 pence in mid day trading.
Aquaculture health and genetics firm Benchmark said it has found a quantitative trait locus or small section of DNA which is linked to "increased levels of resistance to Streptococcus iniae". The pathogen has a high mortality rate - up to 50% - and has been found in 27 fish species.
Benchmark has submitted a patent application for the discovery and will use the identified QTL in the commercial production of tilapia, which will be the first time a significant QTL for disease resistance has been used in commercial tilapia breeding.
Benchmark said that, according to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation, Tilapia is the second-most farmed fish in the world, with 6.3 million tonnes produced in 2018 for a GBP6.6 billion estimated commercial value and growing at around a 5% compound annual growth rate.
The company's tilapia broodstock are now being selected for Streptococcus iniae resistance and improved resistance to another infection, Streptococcus agalactiae.
Malcolm Pye, chief executive at Benchmark, said: "This is a major step forward for the tilapia industry. It is the result of Benchmark's many years of investment and commitment to bringing state-of-the-art breeding technology to this important farmed species.
"We believe that this breakthrough will allow the industry to expand production of this cost effective, high-quality, protein source to meet global demand for protein. We have seen first hand how devastating Streptococcus is to the industry and with the introduction of this new technology we can drive improvements in sustainability and profitability for our customers," Pye added.
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