Isolation and characterization of 11 microsatellite markers for the large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea

Development of the First Microsatellite Multiplex PCR Panel for Meagre (Argyrosomus regius), a Commercial Aquaculture Species

In this study, a microsatellite-based multiplex PCR panel for meagre (Argyrosomus regius) was developed as a useful and single tool in parental assignment and population studies. Twenty-one specific and interspecific microsatellites from different aquaculture species of meagre (Argyrosomus regius), Japanese meagre (A. japonicus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and yellow meagre (Acoupa weakfish) were assessed for genetic variability, allelic range and genotype reliability. Finally, a SuperMultiplex for Argyrosomus regius (SMAr) was designed with only the best eight microsatellite markers. The panel assessment was performed using a batch of brood stock from one company and a sample of 616 offspring. It was possible to assign 95% of the offspring to a single pair of parents using the exclusion method. It is therefore considered an easy procedure, and a powerful and low-cost tool for parental assignment to support companies’ breeding programs and to exchange information between research groups.

Genetic mapping and QTL analysis of growth traits in the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is an important maricultured species in China. A genetic linkage map of the large yellow croaker was constructed using type II microsatellites and expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived microsatellites in two half-sib families (two females and one male). A total of 289 microsatellite markers (contained 93 EST-SSRs) were integrated into 24 linkage groups, which agreed with the haploid chromosome number. The map spanned a length of 1,430.8 cm with an average interval of 5.4 cm, covering 83.9 % of the estimated genome size (1,704.8 cm). A total of seven quantitative trait locis (QTLs) were detected for growth traits on five linkage groups, including two 1 % and five 5 % chromosome-wide significant QTLs, and explained from 2.33 to 5.31 % of the trait variation. The identified QTLs can be applied in marker-assisted selection programs to improve the growth traits.