Genetic Map Construction and Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) Detection of Growth-Related Traits in Litopenaeus vannamei for Selective Breeding Applications

Abstract

Growth is a priority trait from the point of view of genetic improvement. Molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been regarded as useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in complex traits as growth. Using an intermediate F2 cross of slow and fast growth parents, a genetic linkage map of Pacific whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeusvannamei , based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers was constructed. Meanwhile, QTL analysis was performed for growth-related traits. The linkage map consisted of 451 marker loci (429 AFLPs and 22 SSRs) which formed 49 linkage groups with an average marker space of 7.6 cM; they spanned a total length of 3627.6 cM, covering 79.50% of estimated genome size. 14 QTLs were identified for growth-related traits, including three QTLs for body weight (BW), total length (TL) and partial carapace length (PCL), two QTLs for body length (BL), one QTL for first abdominal segment depth (FASD), third abdominal segment depth (TASD) and first abdominal segment width (FASW), which explained 2.62 to 61.42% of phenotypic variation. Moreover, comparison of linkage maps between L . vannamei and Penaeus japonicus was applied, providing a new insight into the genetic base of QTL affecting the growth-related traits. The new results will be useful for conducting MAS breeding schemes in L . vannamei .

Detection of Growth-Related Quantitative Trait Loci and High-Resolution Genetic Linkage Maps Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers in the Kelp Grouper (Epinephelus bruneus)

“…This was different from other studies that performed QTL mapping using F 2 generation from F 1 crosses in a genetically different line or F 2 back-cross (Hayashi and Awata 2004), such as the Pacific white leg shrimp (Andriantahina et al 2013). Kelp groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites and it would take a long time to produce an F 2 generation.…”

A first generation microsatellite-based linkage map of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis and its application in quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection

“…The amplification does not require any prior genomic sequence information. In decapod species such as Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Wang et al, 2012), Penaeus japonicas (Li et al, 2006a), Litopenaeus vannamei (Andriantahina et al, 2013) and Portunus trituberculatus , previous linkage maps were constructed mainly relying on AFLP or RAPD markers. However, AFLP and RAPD markers are unknown DNA sequences and should be further converted into reliable sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers when used in QTL location and positional cloning of target genes.…”

First genetic linkage map for the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) constructed using microsatellite and AFLP markers

“…Nevertheless, this type of marker system has a number of advantages, including a co-dominant inheritance pattern and good transferability across different families and species. Thus, microsatellites are more commonly used in the construction of genetic maps, and they have been used in many animals, such as Portunus tribuberculatus (Liu et al, 2012), Litopenaeus vannamei (Andriantahina et al, 2013), and Scophthalmus rhombus (Hermida et al, 2014). In the present study, we constructed a genetic linkage map for S. paramamosain using microsatellite and AFLP markers based on a G 1 family.…”

“…Over the last decade, genetic linkage maps have been mainly constructed for a few economically important aquaculture crustaceans, such as Penaeus monodon (Staelens et al, 2008), Portunus trituberculatus (Liu et al, 2012), and Litopenaeus vannamei (Andriantahina et al, 2013). To date, no genetic linkage map is available for S. paramamosain, which has severely limited the development of MAS.…”