A first genetic linkage map of bluegill sunfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepomis macrochirus</Emphasis>) using AFLP markers

Genetic linkage maps were constructed for bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, using AFLP in a F₁ inter-population hybrid family based on a double-pseudo testcross strategy. Sixty-four primer combinations produced 4,010 loci, of which 222 maternal loci and 216 paternal loci segregated at a 1:1 Mendelian ratio, respectively. The female and male framework maps consisted of 176 and 177 markers ordered into 31 and 33 genetic linkage groups, spanning 1628.2 and 1525.3 cM, with an average marker spacing of 10.71 and 10.59 cM, respectively. Genome coverage was estimated to be 69.5 and 69.3% for the female and male framework maps, respectively. On the maternal genetic linkage map, the maximum length and marker number of the linkage groups were 122.9 cM and 14, respectively. For the paternal map, the maximum length and marker number of the linkage groups were 345.3 cM and 19, respectively, which were much greater than those on the maternal genetic linkage map. The other genetic linkage map parameters of the paternal genetic linkage map were similar to those in the maternal genetic linkage map. For both the female and male maps, the number of linkage groups was greater than the haploid chromosome number of bluegill (2n = 48), indicating some linkage groups may distribute on the same chromosome. This genetic linkage mapping is the first step toward to the QTL mapping of traits important to cultured breeding in bluegill.     

Genetic linkage map of the pearl oyster,Pinctada martensii (Dunker)

Genetic linkage maps were constructed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers for the pearl oyster, Pinctada martensii (Dunker), the main bivalve used for marine pearl production in Asia. Twenty‐four AFLP and 84 microsatellite primer pairs were used for linkage analysis in a full‐sib family with two parents and 78 offspring. Of the 2357 AFLP fragments generated, 394 (16.7%) were polymorphic and segregating. Most (340 or 86.2%) of the markers segregated according to expected Mendelian ratios. Female and male linkage maps were constructed using 230 and 189 markers, including 15 and 10 microsatellites respectively. The female map consisted of 110 markers in 15 linkage groups, covering 1415.9 cM, with an average interval of 14.9 cM. The male map consisted of 98 markers in 16 linkage groups, with a total length of 1323.2 cM and an average interval of 16.1 cM. When unlinked doublets were considered, genome coverages were 78.5% for the female and 73.5% for the male map. Although preliminary, the genetic maps constructed here should be useful for future linkage and quantitative trait loci mapping efforts.     

A preliminary genetic map of Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston 1904)

Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston 1904) is one of the most important aquaculture species in China. The development of a genetic linkage map would provide a powerful tool for the genetic improvement of this species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is a PCR‐based technique that has proven to be powerful in genome fingerprinting and mapping, and population analysis. Genetic maps of C. farreri were constructed using AFLP markers and a full‐sib family with 60 progeny. A total of 503 segregating AFLP markers were obtained, with 472 following the Mendelian segregation ratio of 1:1 and 31 markers showing significant (P<0.05) segregation distortion. The male map contained 166 informative AFLP markers in 23 linkage groups covering 2468 cM. The average distance between markers was 14.9 cM. The female genetic map consisted of 198 markers in 25 linkage groups spanning 3130 cM with an average inter‐marker spacing of 15.8 cM. DNA polymorphisms that segregated in a 3:1 ratio as well as the AFLP markers that were heterozygous in both parents were included to construct combined linkage genetic map. Five shared linkage groups, ranging from 61.1 to 162.5 cM, were identified between the male and female maps, covering 431 cM. Amplified fragment length polymorphism markers appeared to be evenly distributed within the linkage groups. Although preliminary, these maps provide a starting point for the mapping of the functional genes and quantitative trait loci in C. farreri.     

牙鲆遗传作图及生长性状QTL定位

采用牙鲆日本群体和韩国群体杂交的92个F₁个体作为分离群体, 利用微卫星标记和Joinmap 4.0作图软件构建了牙鲆遗传连锁图谱。共有221个SSR标记用于连锁图谱构建, 雌性图谱中, 共178个微卫星标记定位到22个连锁群上, 观测总长度为(G _oa )599.0 cM, 覆盖率(C _oa )达76.27%。雄性图谱中, 共194个微卫星标记定位到23个连锁群上, G _oa 为693.4 cM, C _oa 为78.82%。对全长、体质量、体高3组数据进行主成分分析处理, 得到可解释3个性状的89.6%特征的一组数据, 命名为牙鲆生长性状GT。用WinQTLCart 2.5软件的复合区间作图,在已构建的遗传连锁图谱上对牙鲆生长性状GT进行QTL定位, 取LOD经验值2.5为QTL存在的阈值; 对微卫星标记进行性状—标记之间的回归分析。本研究共定位3个与牙鲆生长性状GT相关的QTLs, qGT-f4 qGT-m20 qGT-f20,可解释表型变异率分别为27.60%, 13.74%, 10.27%。在性状—标记之间的回归分析中, 得到22个与生长性状GT相关(P<0.05)的微卫星标记, 单个标记可解释表型变异率介于3.70%~10.42%, 其中6个微卫星标记scaffold558_51720、scaffold558_26183、scaffold903_69232、scaffold485_47120 、scaffold1262_77386、scaffold809_65154与生长性状GT之间呈极显著相关(P><0.01), 可解释表型变异率分别为10.42%、7.31%、10.07%、10.07%、8.39%和11.26%。     

A first‐generation genetic map of the Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis‐based AFLP and microsatellite markers

We constructed genetic linkage maps of the Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis using AFLP and microsatellite markers. With 32 AFLP primer combinations, a total of 413 markers (209 from the female parent and 204 from the male parent) segregated in a 1:1 ratio, corresponding to DNA polymorphisms which were heterozygous in one parent and null in the other. Among the six microsatellite markers we used, there were four polymorphic loci. Two segregated in the female parent, and the other two segregated in both parents. In the maternal parent, 161 framework markers were mapped in 20 linkage groups, with a total coverage of 2198.8 cM. In the paternal parent, 166 framework markers established a map with 21 linkage groups, spanning a genome length of 2137.6 cM. The AFLP markers on the maps were randomly distributed with an average spacing between markers of 14.7–15.6 cM. The estimated coverage for the framework maps are 77.9% both for the female and the male. These are the first linkage maps for P. yessoensis, which constitute a basis for further genome studies and provide a useful framework for consensus map construction by adding orthologous anchor markers developed in P. yessoensis.     

Quantitative trait locus mapping of growth‐related traits in inter‐specific F1 hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus) in a tropical climate

Growth‐related traits are the main target of genetic breeding programmes in grouper aquaculture. We constructed genetic linkage maps for tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and giant grouper (E. lanceolatus) using 399 simple sequence repeat markers and performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis to identify the genomic regions responsible for growth‐related traits in F₁ hybrid grouper (E. fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus). The tiger grouper (female) linkage map contained 330 markers assigned to 24 linkage groups (LGs) and spanned 1,202.0 cM. The giant grouper (male) linkage map contained 231 markers distributed in 24 LGs and spanned 953.7 cM. Six QTLs affecting growth‐related traits with 5% genome‐wide significance were detected on different LGs. Four QTLs were identified for total length and body weight on Efu_LG8, 10, 13 and 19 on the tiger grouper map, which explained 6.6%–12.0% of the phenotypic variance. An epistatic QTL with a reciprocal association was observed between Efu_LG8 and 10. Two QTLs were identified for body weight on Ela_LG3 and 10 on the giant grouper map, which explained 6.9% of the phenotypic variance. Two‐way analysis of variance indicated that the QTL on Efu_LG13 interacts with the QTLs on Ela_LG3 and 10 with large effects on body weight. Furthermore, these six QTLs showed different features among the winter, summer and rainy seasons, suggesting that environmental factors and fish age affected these QTLs. These findings will be useful to understand the genetic structure of growth and conduct genetic breeding in grouper species.     

Genetic linkage map of bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck 1819)

The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck 1819) has become one of the most important aquaculture species in China. Genetic improvement of cultured bay scallop can benefit greatly from a better understanding of its genome. In this study, we developed amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and simple sequence repeat markers from expressed sequence tags (EST‐SSRs) for linkage analysis in bay scallop. Segregation of 390 AFLP and eight SSR markers was analysed in a mapping population of 97 progeny. Of the AFLP markers analysed, 326 segregated in the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio, while the remaining 74 (or 19.0%) showed significant deviation, with 33 (44.6%) being deficient in heterozygotes (A/a). Among the eight polymorphic EST‐SSR loci, one marker (12.5%) was found skewing from its expected Mendelian ratios. Eighteen per cent of the markers segregating from female parent were distorted compared with 21% of the markers segregating from male parent. The female map included 147 markers in 17 linkage groups (LGs) and covered 1892.4 cM of the genome. In the male map, totally 146 AFLP and SSR markers were grouped in 18 LGs spanning 1937.1 cM. The average inter‐marker spacing in female and male map was 12.9 and 13.3 cM respectively. The AFLP and SSR markers were distributed evenly throughout the genome except for a few large gaps over 20 cM. Although preliminary, the genetic maps presented here provide a starting point for the mapping of the bay scallop genome.     

镜鲤多家系体长和体质量QTL定位分析

为了克服单个家系数量性状位点(QTL)检测效率低、假阳性高等缺点,实验利用250对微卫星(SSR)标记对镜鲤8个全同胞家系的522尾子代进行基因组扫描,采用半同胞家系的分析策略对镜鲤体长(SL)和体质量(BW)性状进行QTL分析。结果显示,基于父系的QTL分析,共检测到4个QTL区间,其中,3个体长的QTL中,1个为95%基因组水平(genome-wide)显著性,位于LG24,可解释表型变异率为20.3%;其余2个均为95%染色体水平(chromosome-wide)显著性,分别位于LG6和LG30,可解释表型变异率分别为11.9%和11.6%。1个体质量的QTL达到99%基因组水平,位于LG24,可解释表型变异率达到38.3%,且与体长QTL区间重叠。基于母系的QTL分析,共检测到8个QTL区间,其中,5个体长的QTL中,1个为99%染色体水平,位于LG8,可解释表型变异率为16.6%;其余4个均为95%染色体水平,分别位于LG24、LG30、LG31和LG45,可解释表型变异率为9.6%~14.2%,且位于LG24和LG30上的QTL为父母本共有;3个体质量的QTL均与体长QTL区间重叠,1个为95%染色体水平,位于LG24,其余2个均为99%染色体水平,位于LG30和LG45,可解释表型变异率分别为14.1%和13.6%。进一步分析发现,位于LG24上的体长和体质量QTL区间重叠且均为父母本共有,体质量的3个QTL均与体长QTL存在重叠区域且呈现成簇分布的特点。本研究结果不仅可以为鲤分子育种提供更可靠的标记,而且为家系和品种间QTL变异规律的探索提供基础数据。     

A genetic linkage map of the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

We report the first genetic linkage map of the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) constructed with 111 microsatellite markers and 352 AFLP fragments. The parental male linkage map consisted of 25 linkage groups while the female map consisted of 27 groups, with an average resolution of 8 and 6.6 cM, respectively. We have identified linkage among 96% of the markers and the total map length was estimated to be around 1000–1200 cM. This study reports the first low-density linkage map for the Japanese flounder and describes differences in sex recombination. Recombination rates were higher in male flounder compared to the female (7.4:1), a rare condition among vertebrates. This map is a starting point for the mapping of single loci and quantitative traits in flatfish species.     

镜鲤头长及头长体长比性状的主效QTL挖掘

为挖掘镜鲤头长及头长体长比性状的主效QTL区间,实验利用368个SSR、336个SNP标记对镜鲤良种后代杂交F1群体的68个个体进行基因型检测,运用JoinMap 4.0软件包构建遗传连锁图谱。该图谱包含535个分子标记并被分配到50个连锁群上,覆盖基因组总长度为2 244.66 cM,标记间平均距离为4.63 cM。利用MapQTL 5.0(interval mapping,IM)区间作图法进行QTL检测。结果显示,共得到2个与头长相关的QTL区间,分别分布在LG21和LG42,可解释型变异分别为28.2%、32.6%;6个与头长体长比性状相关的QTL位于LG8、LG15、LG18、LG21、LG39、LG40,可解释表型变异范围是16.4%~49.3%。全部QTL区间中贡献率大于20%的主效QTL有7个,HL-21和HL-42是头长性状的主效区间;HBR-8、HBR-15、HBR-21、HBR-39和HBR-40是头长体长比性状的主效QTL区间。利用SPSS的一般线性模型(GLM)针对另一群体进行验证,结果表明HLJ692与镜鲤头长体长比显著相关。     

Effects of Echerichia coli lipopolysaccharides and dissolved ammonia on immune response in southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti

The success of penaeid shrimp aquaculture has been limited by endemic and epidemic infectious diseases around the world and shrimp defense mechanisms are a priority for control, prevention, and diagnosis. The lethal dose (LD₅₀) of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides was calculated and pathogen injection and dissolved ammonia concentration on immune response were evaluated in southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti. The lethal dose of lipopolysacharides was 3.78 mg kg^− 1 body weight. Injection caused changes in phenoloxidase activity in plasma and nitric oxide and total haemocyte counts within the first 24 h. High concentration of dissolved ammonia caused a decrease in haemocytes by 66% within the first 72 h, when compared to the control. Hemagglutination in plasma was not affected by injection or high concentrations of dissolved ammonia. The results showed that white shrimp recognized the lipopolysacharides and responded to this microbial elicitor, as indicated by a variety of immunological indicators and that increased dissolved ammonia affected the number of circulating haemocytes.     

Studies on the rotifer (Brachionus urceus Linnaeus, 1758) as a vector in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) transmission

The rotifer Brachionus urceus (Linnaeus, 1758) was experimentally infected with the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) by the virus-phytoplankton adhesion route in order to assess the possibility of rotifer acting as a vector of WSSV to infect the shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) larvae at zoea stage III. The nested-PCR test revealed WSSV-positive results in the rotifers exposed to WSSV by the virus-phytoplankton adhesion route. Among 10 replicates in the infection treatment, 40% of F. chinensis larvae became WSSV-positive when fed with WSSV-positive rotifers, whereas all were WSSV-negative for F. chinensis when fed with WSSV-free rotifers. Though the mortality of shrimp larvae in the infection treatment (39.47 ± 15.44%) was higher than that in the control treatment (34.67 ± 15.11%), there was no significant difference in the mortality between them (P > 0.05). These results indicated that the rotifer could serve as a vector in WSSV transmission when ingested.     

Serotonin stimulates ovarian maturation and spawning in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) has been reported to induce ovarian maturation and spawning in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii and white Pacific shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The aim of this study was to explore the role of exogenous 5HT on the reproductive performance of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. 5HT solution was injected into domesticated P. monodon broodstock at 50 μg/g body weight and ovarian maturation and spawning were recorded. The presence of 5HT in the ovary and oviduct of P. monodon was also studied by immunohistochemistry and its levels in the ovary by enzyme link immunoabsorbance assay (ELISA). The 5HT-injected P. monodon developed ovarian maturation and spawning rate at the level comparable to that of unilateral eyestalk-ablated shrimp. Hatching rate and the amount of nauplii produced per spawner were also significantly higher in the 5HT-injected shrimp, compared to the eyestalk-ablated shrimp. 5HT-positive reactions were found in the follicular cells of pre-vitellogenic oocytes, in the cytoplasm of early vitellogenic oocytes and on the cell membrane and cytoplasm of late vitellogenic oocytes. 5HT in the ovary was present at 3.53 ± 0.26 ng/mg protein level in previtellogenic stage and increased to 17.03 ± 0.57 ng/mg protein level in the mature stage of the ovary. The results suggest a significant role of 5HT, possibly directly on the ovary and oviduct, on the reproductive function of female P. monodon.     

Heritability for body weight at harvest size in the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei, from a multi-environment experiment using univariate and multivariate animal models

To estimate family BLUP breeding values and the heritability of body weight at harvest size (BW) in the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei, an experiment was conduced using information from two farm units of a Mexican hatchery and two shrimp population densities at each location. Data consisted of 12,658 shrimps that were siblings from 48 sires and 77 dams with a nested dam-sire structure. Shrimps were individually weighed at an average age of 130 days post-hatching. BW phenotypic mean (S.D.) was 18.2 (2.4) g, with values ranging from 8.4 to 30.0 g. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate models that considered BW within location by density pond environment as a different trait and included or not a common full-sib effect (c). The multivariate animal model included fixed effects of days from hatching and sex. For univariate models that included c effects, BW heritability (S.E.) estimates ranged from 0.24 (0.14) to 0.35 (0.18) across environments (heritability was zero in one environment). For multivariate models (excluding the environment with zero heritability) the heritabilities increased and ranged from 0.37 (0.06) to 0.45 (0.09). Standard errors of heritabilities and c effects were both drastically reduced in the multivariate analysis. Pairwise genetic correlations between environments were from 0.80 (0.08) to 0.86 (0.04). These differences may be indicative of genotype-environment interaction for BW at 130 days post-hatching. Statistical problems found to separate c from additive genetic effects both in univariate models were reduced using multivariate models. Correlation between family raw phenotypic means and family BV means from the multivariate analysis was 0.93 indicating a rather low risk of miss selecting superior families if BLUP solutions were neglected using replicated environment data. It is also concluded that use of incorrect statistical models or unreplicated data may lead to biased or inaccurate estimates of genetic parameters in shrimp breeding programs.     

基于两种对虾参考基因组的中国明对虾性别分化区域初步探查

中国明对虾是我国最重要的养殖虾类之一。性成熟后的中国明对虾在生长和体色上表现出性别二态性。为了探查基因组上潜在的性别分化相关区域,对中国明对虾进行了全基因组重测序研究。分别使用中国明对虾基因组和其近缘物种凡纳滨对虾的基因组作为参考基因组,计算了雌雄中国明对虾之间的遗传分化指数F_st,以筛查基因组上的性别分化相关区域。当使用中国明对虾参考基因组时,有约89%的中国明对虾测序读段全部或部分比对到中国明对虾参考基因,覆盖度大约为84%。基因组上F_st出现较多杂乱的峰,其中LG5的F_st值整体呈升高的趋势,另外LG13、LG17及LG35均有F_st指数相对较高的区域。而当使用凡纳滨对虾参考基因组时,有约60%的中国明对虾测序读段全部或部分比对到凡纳滨对虾参考基因,覆盖度约为52%。Scaffold 2550和Scaffold 3683上分别有2个最显著的峰。将雌雄中国明对虾转录组测序数据与凡纳滨对虾的参考基因组比对后,获得了中国明对虾的粗略表达谱,挖掘出了丰富的差异表达基因。分析了前述2个Scaffold上...     

Co-occurrence of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, mortalities and microcystin toxin in a southeastern USA shrimp facility

Various freshwater and marine algal toxins are known to affect plants, fishes, mammals, and invertebrates. During recent mortality events in Texas white shrimp aquaculture ponds, water and shrimp tissue samples were analyzed for cyanobacterial toxins and found to contain microcystin-LR. Cyanoprokaryota dominated the phytoplankton assemblage in water from the affected pond, particularly Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena sp. Water samples from the affected pond also contained high levels of microcystin-LR (45 μg/l), whereas adjacent ponds had a diatom-green algal assemblage and no measurable toxin. Unialgal isolates of M. aeruginosa from the affected pond produced microcystin-LR. Free microcystin-LR concentrations in dead shrimp hepatopancreas determined by HPLC were 55 μg/g total shrimp weight, whereas shrimp hepatopancreas from the adjacent pond without shrimp mortalities had no measurable toxin. Muscle toxin concentration was below 0.1 μg/g.     

应用SSR和SRAP标记构建青虾遗传连锁图谱

采用SSR和SRAP标记结合拟测交策略构建青虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)遗传连锁图谱。共有175个标记(含27个SSR、148个SRAP标记)分布在53个连锁群上。每个连锁群含2~8个标记,其中不少于3个标记的连锁群有35个,连锁对18个,平均每个连锁群的标记数为3.3个;连锁群长度在6.7~91.2 cM之间,相邻标记间最大间隔为49.0 cM,最小为1.4 cM,平均间隔为13.1 cM。青虾框架图谱长度为997.2 cM,图谱观察总长度为2 270.5cM,根据估算,青虾遗传连锁图谱预期长度为4 380.6 cM,图谱的覆盖率为51.83%。本研究构建了青虾遗传连锁图谱,该图谱也是淡水虾蟹类第一张遗传连锁图谱,可为青虾QTL定位、基因克隆、遗传选育等提供指导,并为进一步构建高密度的青虾遗传连锁图谱奠定了基础。     

Genotyping‐by‐sequencing for construction of a new genetic linkage map and QTL analysis of growth‐related traits in Pacific bluefin tuna

Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) has high market value, but its wild populations have decreased in recent years. The broodstock of Pacific bluefin tuna that were hatched artificially and reared under aquaculture conditions is beginning to be used for production. The creation of broodstock with commercially valuable traits, such as rapid growth, is therefore of great interest. Genetic linkage map‐based identification of markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) facilitates marker‐assisted selection (MAS) breeding and allows efficient genetic improvement of broodstock. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based genetic linkage map construction using the genotyping‐by‐sequencing method can expand the number of mapped markers and help identify growth‐related QTLs. In this study, we constructed sex‐specific maps for 24 linkage groups consisting of 677 SNP and 651 microsatellite markers. The total lengths of 93 progenies in the mapping population followed normal distribution, with an average length of 9.4 mm. We performed composite interval mapping in the mapping population. QTL analysis revealed one significant QTL in LG10 on the female linkage map. The genetic linkage map—the second such map generated for Pacific bluefin tuna—and the growth‐related QTLs detected in this study will be useful for tuna aquaculture MAS programs.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for growth-related traits in the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The locations and effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL) were estimated for nine characters for growth‐related traits in the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and SSR genetic linkage map. Twenty‐eight putatively significant QTLs (LOD>2.4) were detected for nine traits (shell length, shell width, total weight, shell weight, weight of soft part, muscle weight, gonad and digestive gland weight, mantle weight and gill weight). The percentage of phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 8.0% to 35.9%. The significant correlations (P<0.001) were found among all the growth‐related traits, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were more than 0.81. For the female map, the QTL for growth were concentrated on groups 1 and 4 linkage maps. On the male map, the QTL that influenced growth‐related traits gathered on the groups 1 and 9 linkage maps. Genetic linkage map construction and QTL analysis for growth‐related traits are the basis for the marker‐assisted selection and will eventually improve production and quality of the Pacific abalone.     

Chilled storage of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) spermatophores

Chilled storage of spermatophores from white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is needed to generate a consistent and reliable supply of spermatozoa for domestication purposes. The objective of this study was to develop a protocol for the chilled storage of white shrimp spermatophores and to evaluate bacterial propagation during such storage. In the first experiment, spermatophores were immersed in four extenders, mineral oil, Ringer's solution, phosphate buffer and 0.85% NaCl, and stored at low temperature (2-4 °C) for 35 days. Characteristics of preserved spermatophores changed the least and viable sperm was highest when spermatophores were stored in mineral oil. Spermatophores preserved with mineral oil appeared morphologically normal. Bacillus circulans, Staphylococcus hominis and S. lugdunensis, S. sciuri, S. xylosus and Micrococcus spp. were identified as the predominant bacteria during chilled storage, and total bacterial counts gradually increased during the experiment. A second experiment investigated the effect of antibiotic on chilled storage. Spermatophores were preserved in only mineral oil or mineral oil with 0.1% penicillin-streptomycin. These were evaluated for changes in external morphology of spermatophores, sperm viability and total bacteria count every week during a 35-day experimental period. Percentages of viable sperm (69.5 ± 3.9%) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) among spermatophores preserved in mineral oil with 0.1% antibiotic compared with those preserved only in mineral oil (57.7 ± 3.4%) over 35 days. The number of total bacteria in the treatment with mineral oil ranged between 28.3 ± 4.8 and 2416.7 ± 299.4 CFU/g, but in mineral oil containing antibiotic bacteria were undetectable. This study suggests that chilled storage of spermatophores is a feasible approach for the management and spawning of white shrimp broodstock.