Department of Applied Fish Biology

Last modified: 13. December 2023

Research of the department, situated in Keszthely, focuses on problems in fish biology and fish farming, by combining classical and modern approaches. Members of the department are involved in the academic and practical training of agricultural and nature conservation engineers. The graduates of the department have had considerable achievements over the past two years, including winning KDP and ÚNKP scholarships, first prize in local and national TDKs, a special prize from the National Association of Doctoral Students, and the Miklós Nádasy Award.

The main focus of the Fish Genomics Research Group funded by the Frontline Research Excellence Program (2018), is to explore genetic and environmental factors that control fish sex determination using genomic tools. It is a continuation of a successful international program that has been running for several decades and could provide a new approach to hormone-free manipulation of the sex of farmed fish. Their current research focuses on the process of natural and induced sex reversal using zebrafish as a model. They are also studying the interactions between the farmed fish and their pathogens at a molecular level and the possibilities of drug-free therapy.

In addition to the above objectives outlined in the Frontline program, additional research programs in the department are as follows:
European catfish selection program in collaboration with partners from Szarvas and Gödöllő. The project aims to develop elite lines that are more robust than those currently in production and show increased resistance to infectious diseases. The program has also developed a cooperation agreement with industry representatives.

Pikeperch selection program together with colleagues from Szarvas, investigating behavioral genetic aspects of the nutritional problems of intensive production. The project aims to identify genes that regulate individual feed consumption and feed conversion and to search for genetic markers among their alleles potentially suitable to select individuals with superior traits.