The seven-band grouper (Epinephelus septemfasciatus) is an important fishery resource of a target for prospective aquaculture diversification and maintenance of stock quality is thus important. To explore the sustainability of fry production, genetic variations in 83 sevenband groupers from two broodstock and offspring populations of a hatchery strain were analyzed using 13 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite DNA loci; 133 alleles were identified. Allelic variability ranged from 4 to 18 in the broodstock and from 3 to 11 in the offspring. The average observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.669 and 0.734 in broodstock and 0.674 and 0.649 in offspring, respectively. Although no statistically significant reductions in heterozygosity or allelic diversity were evident in offspring, considerable loss of rare alleles was apparent. The broodstock and offspring populations exhibited significant genetic differences (F ST = 0.033, P \ 0.001) indicating that genetic drift has likely promoted differentiation between the two populations, which may have negative effects on sustainable fry production. Therefore, genetic variations between broodstock and offspring should be monitored, and inbreeding should be controlled, to ensure the success of commercial breeding programs. Our data provide a useful genetic basis for future planning of sustainable culture and management of E. septemfasciatus in fisheries.

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