Table 2 Microscopic description of the maturity stages of the ovaries of C. striata
Stages | Ovaries |
|---|---|
Stage I (Immature) | Oogonia, chromatin nucleolar and early perinucleolar oocytes were present. The perinucleolar oocytes had a large nucleus. |
Stage II (Maturing) | Partially yolked oocytes and late perinucleolar oocytes were present. Partially yolked oocytes contained yolk vesicles in their cytoplasm. |
Stage III (Mature) | Advanced yolked oocytes were abundantly present. The cytoplasms were filled with yolk granules. These stages of maturation were observed from late April to June. |
Stage IV (Spent/Recovering) | Appearance of empty follicle and few numbers of oogonia and perinucleolar oocytes represented the reserved stock for the further spawning. The spent gonads appeared in August and September. |