Morphometric and Meristic Variation between GIFT TILAPIA, UPM Red Tilapia F2 Hybrid and Backcross (Bc1F2)

The traits that could be used to explain morphometric and meristic traits of F2 Hybrid, Bc1F2, UPM red Tilapia and Gift Tilapia were examined using Principal Component Analysis in Unscramble@ X statistical tool. A total of 25 morphometric and 5 meristic observation were taking using the buss truss protocol.  The score value, correlation loading and the bi-plot was used in explaining the discriminate value. The Score plot shows that the morphometric traits could be represented by the first 2 principal components (PC1 and PC2), with 85% of the original variance in the data set (PC1: 58% and PC2: 27%). Meristics observation used for the scores were the dorsal fin (DF), anal fin (AF), pelvic fin (PF) caudal fin and pectoral fin (PeF). They were represented in the first 2 principal components (PC1 and PC2) with original value of 82% (PC1: 44% and PC2: 38%). Most scores values from the morphometric traits were able to explain the differences in the strain of studies unlike the meristic traits.