J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2014: Vol.

28 (2): 337-340 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

ESTIMATION OF GONADO-SOMATIC INDEX AND FECUNDITY OF CHAGUNIUS

CHAGUNIO (HAMILTON- BUCHANAN, 1822)
Raghvendra Singh, V. K. Tiwari, N. N. Pandey1, Monika Gupta, Babitha Rani A.M. and Chandra Prakash
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai-400 061
1
Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal-263 136
email: shakya.raghav@gmail.com

Received: 04-08-2014 Accepted: 26-11-2014

An attempt was made to assess the Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Fecundity of an indigenous cyprinid, Chagunius chagunio
distributed in Brahmaputra and Ganga drainages along the Himalayan foot hills. This species has good food value with fair market
demand. Recorded GSI in captive reared females were ranging from 3.27 to 17.59 with a highest value during May-June (16.17±1.09
and 15.41±0.95) and August-September (14.72±1.56 and 14.11±1.07). In wild females GSI was in range of 2.17 % to 19.59 % and two
peaks were recorded during April- May (17.17±2.13 and 16.41±1.97) and August- September (15.62±1.03 and 15.11±0.83). Based
on GSI two possible breeding seasons can be predicted as April-June and August- September. Asynchronous type of ovarian
development indicates the batch spawning behavior of the fish. Lowest and highest batch fecundity was 271.34 and 339.12 ova per
gram ovary weight respectively while average value was recorded as 302.55±23.39 ova per gram ovary weight. The present study
is the first report on these biological indices for C. Chagunio and also reveals that the fish is able to attain ovarian maturity under
captivity.

Today's time of rapidly growing aquaculture sector demands
more and more fish species to be incorporated for its
diversification. Availability of brood stock and good management
practices are the key factors leading to success or failure of
seed production and culture of any fish species. For the
production of healthy fish seeds normal gonadal development
is essential. Normal development of gonads can easily be
assessed by the gonad's weight which is expressed as
Gonadosomatic index (GSI). GSI not only gives the idea about
the maturity level of fish but also helpful for estimating the
breeding season of a fish. It is reported that the GSI act as an
indicator of gonadal status1. Records on the study of the GSI
and fecundity in Anabas testudineus2 and Labeo rohita3 are
also available. Labeo dyocheilus, an important hill stream
cyprinid can achieve normal development of gonads kept under
captivity in coldwater conditions 4,5. Attaining full gonadal
maturity under captivity is undoubtedly a major challenge for
developing the complete package of practice of any fish species.
According to a report, captive reared females of amberjack,
Seriola dumerilii failed not only to spawn, but also to complete
vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation6.
Chagunius chagunio, belongs to family cyprinidae commonly
known as "Chaguni" is one of the economically important
indigenous fish of Indian Himalayan region. In India this species
is distributed in Brahmaputra and Ganga drainages along the
Himalayan foot hills 7. In Kumaon Himalayan region, C.
chagunio is locally called as "Chippan" have high consumer
preference and fetch very good market price of about Rs. 300/
kg. Estimation of GSI and fecundity of C. chagunio will be very
much useful to get more information about its reproduction
potential as well as prove as a mile stone for its incorporation
as a new candidate species in hill aquaculture.
Scanning of previous literature about C. chagunio indicates
that no research has been conducted on any aspect of
reproductive biology of this fish. Therefore, the present
investigation was undertaken to record the GSI and fecundity
of C. chagunio under captive and wild conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experiment was carried out at Directorate of Coldwater
Fisheries Research (DCFR) Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
(Latitude 29021´ N, Longitude 79034´ E, altitude 1370 m MSL).
Live fishes of C. chagunio weighing from 57-143 g and length
ranging from 17.80 to 23.50 cm were collected from the River
Kosi Ramnagar, Uttarakhand (29° 29.038' N latitude, 79.08777'
E longitude and altitude 410 m MSL) during year 2013 and
stocked in cemented ponds at DCFR, Bhimtal. To simulate a
semi-natural environment to the fishes, few medium sized
boulders were kept at the pond bottom facilitating periphyton
growth. Fishes were fed daily with conventional feed @ 2-3%
 Estimation of Gonado-somatic Index and Fecundity of Chagunius (338)

Table-1. GSI value of female C. chagunio kept under captivity.

Table-2. GSI value of female C. chagunio collected wild.

Fig. 1. Monthly variation in GSI value of female C. Fig. 2. Monthly variation in GSI value of female C.
chagunio kept under captivity chagunio collected wild
(339) Saikia, Bhattacharjee and Dutta
of their body weight. Wild fishes were purchased from fish market
Ramnagar to study the desired biological indices. GSI was
recorded monthly for complete one year and fecundity was
estimated during March-September. The body weight of each
fish was measured by means of an electronic balance.
Fecundity was estimated by standard protocol8 from wild fishes
only, as fecundity estimation requires a large number of fish
samples which was not manageable in captivity. GSI was
estimated using following formula..
Weight of gonad (g)
GSI   100
total body weight (g)
Various data were recorded and analyzed using Microsoft Office
Excel, 2007.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The GSI values of C. chagunio were ranging from 3.27 % to
17.59 % in captive reared females. Average GSI value increased
gradually from month of December (05.12±0.91) attained a peak
in May (16.17±1.09) and a sharp fall was recorded in July
(04.84±1.47). Again in the months of August and September
high values (14.72±1.56 and 14.12±1.07) of GSI were recorded
with a decreasing trend up to November (04.17±1.17). It was
observed that many females were freely oozing eggs on applying
gentle pressure on belly during May- June and August-
September.
In wild collection GSI values of females were ranging from 2.17%
to 19.59%. Mean GSI value increased gradually from the month
of December (05.49±0.39), attained highest value in April
(17.17±2.13) and a sharp fall was recorded in June (06.84±0.84)
and July (2.52±0.23). Further in August and September greater
values (15.62±1.03 and 14.12±0.83) of GSI were recorded with
a decreasing trend up to November (4.67±0.61). As compare
to captive reared ones wild females were found freely oozing
eggs in April-May and August-September.
Greater value of GSI reflects the ovarian maturity in the fish9.
GSI can not only be used to predict the breeding season but
also indicate the maturity status and periodicity of spawning of
a fish10. Fig. 1&2 shows that C. chagunio in wild has possibly
two breeding seasons; April-May and August- September while
under captivity in cold water conditions; May-June and August-
September. Variation in breeding season in different fish species
have been recorded by different researchers and even for the
same species different reports are available describing different
breeding seasons at different locations11.
Examination of ovarian eggs shows occurrence of variable
size of ova present at particular period of time. This gives an
indication that the ovarian development of C. chagunio follow
asynchronous type of pattern and the fish spawn in batches
even within the same breeding season. It is reported that Tor
putitora is a batch spawner and multiplicity of spawning may
depend on the environmental conditions12. In present study
recorded lowest and highest batch fecundity was 271.34 and
339.12 ova per gram ovary weight with an average of
302.55±23.39 ova per gram ovary weight. Similar to our findings
many other workers reported the fecundity of other important
cold water cyprinids. Reported batch fecundity of T. tor is
6400 eggs for a fish of 546 mm total length13. Total fecundity
of T. putitora recorded in a range from 3987 to 7320 in the
fishes of size range 190 to 250 mm total length at Bhimtal14.
According to a study in Kashmir Himalayas the fecundity of
Schizothorax niger ranged between 15000 to 18000 eggs kg-
1 body weight15.
Present findings highlight the reproductive potential of C.
chagunio which has got good market value not only in foot
hills of Kumaon but also contributes a major share of inland
fishery of North-East states of India especially in Arunachal
Pradesh. Present investigation and information about GSI and
fecundity is the first report on these biological indices of C.
chagunio which will be very helpful for the development of
culture and fishery of this species.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, Directorate
of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, and Dr.
W.S. Lakra, Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Education,
Mumbai for providing the opportunity to carry out this work
along with their valuable guidance, useful suggestions and
facilities during the research. Authors are immensely thankful
to Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for
providing research fellowship under INSPIRE Fellowship
scheme.
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