Bacteria in the culture of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819)

The scallop Argopecten purpuratus is one of the major resources of commercial importance in Chilean aquaculture. One of the major limiting factors for the culture of this species has been mass mortality occurring during production of juvenile "seed" organisms where mass mortality of veliger larvae has been attributed to the presence of pathogenic bacteria in scallops and hatchery systems. Bacteriological studies have demonstrated that in addition to bacterial pathogens, beneficial bacterial species capable of improving scallop larval survival may also be isolated from scallops and hatchery systems. Research has been carried out on the determination of the feasibility of implementing beneficial bacteria in the control of culture pathogens, thus reducing the need for chemotherapeutic methods. The present review analyzes bacteriological research data on the different roles of bacteria associated with scallop culture and discusses recent data on the implementation of beneficial bacteria in biological control of pathogens in larval mass cultures of Argopecten purpuratus.