Sequence Variation in the Farnesoic Acid O‐methyltransferase Gene and its Associations with Growth of Shrimp,Penaeus chinensis

The aim of this study is to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the farnesoic acid O‐methyltransferase gene in shrimp, Penaeus chinensis (PcFAMeT), and analyze the potential association between PcFAMeT gene polymorphisms and growth traits in a cultured population. Four SNPs (A163G, G392T, A708G, and T752C) were tested for association with six growth traits in 240 individuals using the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method. The association analysis of SNPs of PcFAMeT gene with the six growth traits was carried out using general linear model estimation. Results indicated that SNP2 (G392T) of the PcFAMeT gene was significantly associated with body weight (P < 0.05) and carapace width (P < 0.05). The individuals of genotype GG grew faster than those of genotype GT and TT. The results would provide potential application in future shrimp breeding programs and may be used to improve the efficiency in shrimp, P. chinensis, breeding programs.     

Fitting growth with the von Bertalanffy growth function: a comparison of three approaches of multivariate analysis of fish growth in aquaculture experiments

Three approaches for multivariate analysis of fish growth in aquaculture experiments with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus niloticus L.) based on the von Bertalanffy growth curve are presented and compared. The approaches are: an extended Gulland‐and‐Holt (GH) plot, a forced extended GH plot and a multilinear regression analysis for the growth parameter K. All three models provide valuable insight into the major environmental factors influencing the daily growth rate and explain 28–46% of the variance of the observed daily growth rate of the used data set. For all three methods, the modelled parameter is significantly related to the net yield of Nile tilapia and can, therefore, be used for the predictive modelling of management scenarios. The extended GH plot loads the influence of environmental parameters upon L_∞, while the forced extended GH plot and Direct fitting of K load the influence on the growth parameter K. The latter is more in the tradition of aquaculture research. But the forced extended GH plot and Direct fitting of K can only be applied if L_∞ of the cultured species is known, as the selected L_∞ influences the variance in the regression variables.     

Identification of insulin-like growth factor I gene polymorphisms using high-resolution melting and its effect on growth traits in sinipercid species

The aim of this study is to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) gene and analyze the potential association between IGF-I gene polymorphisms and growth traits in a crossing sinipercid population. Two SNPs (g.A321G, g.A537G) within five exons of the IGF-I gene were tested for association with four growth traits in 250 individuals using the high-resolution melting method. The association analysis of SNPs of IGF-I gene with the four growth traits was carried out using General Linear Model estimation. Results indicated that SNP1 in exon3 of the IGF-I gene was significantly associated with body weight (P < 0.05), body length (P < 0.05) and body width (P < 0.05), and SNP2 in exon5 of the IGF-I gene was significantly associated with body weight (P < 0.05), body depth (P < 0.05) and body width (P < 0.05) in a sinipercid population. The individuals of genotype AA or AG in loci SNP1 and SNP2 grew faster than those of genotype GG. Diplotypes did not show significant effects on growth traits. These findings implied that the two SNPs of the IGF-I gene affecting growth traits could be potential quantitative trait nucleotides and would be useful genetic markers in the selection of some growth traits for developing improved culture lines of sinipercid species in China.     

Characterization of single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers in the Mediterranean mussel,Mytilus galloprovincialis

The Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, is one of the most important aquaculture species in Europe. Appropriate molecular markers are required to evaluate genetic resources and to trace genealogies in breeding programmes for improving mussel culture. Microsatellites have been commonly applied to this purpose in other species. However, Mediterranean mussel microsatellites have demonstrated high frequencies of null alleles that hamper accurate estimates of population parameters and confident parentage inferences. As alternative markers, we have characterized in silico 25 potential single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the Mediterranean mussel from expressed sequence tag (EST) public databases. The genotyping of SNPs was performed using a single‐base extension approach. Their polymorphism was evaluated in 47 individuals from an Atlantic population. Out of the 25 potential SNPs tested, 12 were technically feasible (producing a single amplicon) and polymorphic. All were biallelic and had an unbiased heterozygosity ranging from 0.160 to 0.504. One SNP was from a mitochondrial gene. The combined potential of nuclear SNPs for parentage assignment gave an exclusion probability of a false couple of parents of 0.9471. These markers will be useful for evaluating resources and tracing genealogies in genetic breeding programmes implemented to solve the main problems of mussel culture.     

SNPs of myostatin (MSTN) gene and their association with growth traits in three bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations

Genetic diversity and correlation analysis between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of myostatin (MSTN) gene and the growth traits were performed in Argopecten irradians. Around 279 individuals from three A. irradians populations were screened for the polymorphic sites of the MSTN gene. Two SNPs were found: T910G and G1162A. The observed heterozygosity of the two SNPs ranged from 0.1310 to 0.3299, whereas the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.1436 to 0.2973. The values of D′ and r² of linkage disequilibrium (LD) ranged from 0.475 to 1.0 and 0.052 to 0.174 respectively. Association analysis shows that individuals with genotype TT and TG of locus W4 had significantly higher adductor muscle mass than that with genotype GG in population CA (P < 0.05). Individuals with genotype AA of locus W5 had significantly higher body mass, soft‐tissue mass, adductor muscle mass, shell width and shell mass than those of other genotypes in population RZ (P < 0.05). The two SNPs found in our study can be used for molecule marker‐assisted breeding of A. irradians.     

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Leptin‐a Gene and Associations with Growth Traits in the Golden Pompano,Trachinotus blochii

Leptin is a multifunctional protein involved in processes such as body weight (BWT) regulation, food intake, and appetite regulation. In this study, we isolated and cloned the full‐length leptin‐a gene from the golden pompano, Trachinotus blochii. A search for polymorphisms, as well as association analyses between these polymorphisms and 10 growth traits were performed. A total of 10 polymorphisms, consisting of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 1 (C203T, G252A, C380G, G383C, and G587A), one mutation in exon 2 (T775A), one mutation in exon 3 (G1239A), and three SNPs in the 3′‐untranslated region (G1424A, T1653A, and A1654T) were identified and genotyped in 150 individuals. The C203T and C380G polymorphisms, as well as the G1424A and T1653A polymorphisms, showed complete linkage. Association analyses revealed that the T775A polymorphism was significantly associated with BWT, body height (BWH), body length, and overall length (OL), and genotype TT had negative effects on growth traits. Additionally, the SNP G1239A was significantly associated with BWT, BWH, OL, and head length, with the GA genotype showing positive effects on growth traits. The results indicate that polymorphisms in the leptin‐a gene loci can be used as a selection criterion to improve growth traits in golden pompano.     

Polymorphisms and haplotypes of the myostatin gene associated with growth in juvenile red sea bream Pagrus major

Polymorphisms of the myostatin gene (MSTN) have been studied in vertebrates including several aquaculture species, revealing their role in growth. We attempted to identify polymorphisms in MSTN associated with growth traits of juvenile farmed red sea bream Pagrus major, an important cultured fish species in Japan. Polymorphisms in the coding region of MSTN were screened, and six polymorphisms were found among three exons: a deletion in exon 1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 2 and four SNPs in exon 3. The deletion in exon 1 eliminated a codon (glutamine) from the region comprising the polyglutamine structure, but all SNPs were synonymous. We analysed the polymorphisms for association with growth phenotype in large and small P. major specimens obtained from commercial production at 50 days post hatching. Two SNPs located in exon 3 (c.+846T>C and c.+1140T>C) were significantly more frequent in the large group, while no SNPs were significantly associated with the small phenotype. Haplotypes were reconstructed using genotype information of the two phenotype groups, and nine haplotypes (Hap_1 to Hap_9) were successfully reconstructed. Hap_6 and Hap_7 were significantly more often observed in small and large groups respectively. Analysis of diplotypes (haplotype combinations) of individual specimens revealed 19 diplotypes. The Hap_7/Hap_7 diplotype was found in 46.7% of large phenotype specimens, significantly more frequently than in the small group (13.5%). These results will be useful for marker‐assisted selection of red sea bream to improve production with respect to growth.     

Additive genetic and heterotic effects in a 4 × 4 complete diallel cross‐population of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus,Linnaeus, 1758) reared in different water temperature environments in Northern Vietnam

This study aims to estimate the strain additive genetic and heterotic effects on growth and survival in a 4 × 4 complete diallel cross‐population of Nile tilapia. Mass spawning was practised in replicate hapas to simultaneously produce progeny of all crosses for performance testing in three environments (in ponds at 20–30°C, in tanks at 15–20°C and in tanks at 20–25°C). A total of 6735 individually tagged fish were tested over a grow‐out period of 278 days. Statistical analyses were carried out on 5097 body trait records available at harvest. Across the test environments, the NOVIT4 strain exhibited the highest additive genetic values for both growth and survival (19% and 33% above the pure strain mean respectively). The heterosis effect was low and not different from zero for both traits. The ranking of strains with respect to their additive genetic values generally did not change between tank environments (15–20 vs. 20–25°C). The correlations of the additive genetic performance between tank environments were also high (0.84), suggesting that strain by water temperature interaction was likely not biologically important. By contrast, the differences in both performance and survival between pond and tank environments were statistically significant, indicating that this effect should be accounted for in future breeding programmes. The large additive genetic effect among strains coupled with the non‐significant heterotic effects in our study suggest that future breeding programme in this population of Nile tilapia should be based on a wise choice of strain or by exploiting the additive genetic variation through selective breeding.     

Yeast extract on growth,nutrient utilization and haemato‐immunological responses of Nile tilapia

Dietary supplementation (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 g kg^?1) of a nucleotide source (NuPro^®) was evaluated on growth, nutrient utilization, haemato‐immunological responses and resistance to experimental infection of Nile tilapia. Fish (2.63 ± 0.63 g) were fed experimental diets to satiation three times a day for 75 days. Feed intake increased linearly with increasing levels of NuPro^® promoting higher weight gain (P < 0.05). Survival, feed conversion and protein retention were not affected. Following the growth trial, fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila by intraperitoneal injection. Survival and innate immune responses (phagocytosis and lysozyme activity) were not significantly affected. However, among the haematological variables, thrombocyte, leucocyte and monocyte counts increased linearly (P < 0.05). The indirect measurement of digestibility in juvenile Nile tilapia (122.32 ± 11 g) indicated a linear decrease in protein (1.41%), dry matter (5.72%) and energy (4.10%) digestibility coefficients as dietary supplementation increased (P < 0.05). NuPro^® showed to be a beneficial additive to be supplemented in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia, providing 32.8% increase in feed intake and 28.8% in weight gain, as well as in thrombocyte, leucocyte and monocyte counts in blood, possibly indicating a more efficient defence response in the highest dietary supplementation levels tested.     

黄条鰤生长性状全基因组关联分析

利用2b-RAD技术对119尾黄条鰤(Seriola lalandi)个体进行测序,共获得黄条鰤SNP分子标记26665个,对黄条鰤个体的体质量和全长这2个重要生长性状进行全基因组关联分析,筛选与体质量和全长性状相关的SNP位点和候选基因。结果显示,黄条鰤体质量性状中共筛选到17个体质量显著关联的SNP位点,找到17个可能的候选基因,全长性状共筛选到12个潜在显著关联位点,找到12个可能的候选基因。利用KEGG数据库对可能的候选基因进行Pathway分析,得知候选基因主要参与了细胞或组织生长发育相关的代谢通路调控过程,可能是影响黄条鰤生长性状密切相关的重要候选SNP位点和功能基因,结果可为今后黄条鰤种质资源可持续利用和育种提供遗传信息资料积累。     

Performance of genetically improved Nile tilapia compared with red hybrid tilapia fed diets containing two protein levels

A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the interaction between tilapia genotype and dietary protein level on the growth, feed utilization efficiency and body composition of Nile tilapia [Oreochromis niloticus L., F₉ generation of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain] and red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Two isoenergetic diets (15.5 kJ g⁻¹ diet) containing 25% or 35% crude protein were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of tilapia (12.8±0.2 g) at a fixed daily ration of 4% of their body weight. The growth performance of the GIFT tilapia fed 25% or 35% dietary protein was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with red tilapia at either protein level. Increasing the dietary protein level by 10% led to a further 10% increase in the final weight of GIFT tilapia but no further increase was observed in the weight gain of red tilapia. Growth was influenced by the interaction between diet and tilapia genotype. Feed conversion ratios were 14% and 33% better in GIFT tilapia compared with red tilapia fed the 25% or 35% protein diet respectively. Protein efficiency ratio and net protein utilization were influenced by both diet and tilapia genotype, but not the interaction between the two. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein did not differ significantly between the two diets and tilapia genotypes but lipid digestibility was 1.2–4.7% higher for the GIFT tilapia. Tilapia whole‐body protein content was significantly influenced by both diet and tilapia genotype. The higher growth potential, better feed utilization efficiency and higher body protein content of GIFT tilapia compared with red tilapia should have a positive impact on tilapia farming in terms of production costs.     

Nanoparticles of Arthrospira platensis improves growth,antioxidative and immunological responses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila

Several studies investigated the usage of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in aquaculture as a functional dietary additive or plant proteins replacers; however, more efforts still needed to test its nano form inclusion in aquafeed. In this study, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed dietary spirulina (A. platensis) nanoparticles (SNP) at 0 (control), 0.1, 1 and 10 g/kg diet while the fifth diet was mixed with 10 g/kg of the normal form of A. platensis as a positive control. The final weight (FW), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio of fish fed SNP at 10 g/kg displayed improved values comparing with the other groups (p < 0.05). Further, fish fed 1 g SNP had higher FW and WG than the control and 0.1 g SNP and 10 g normal A. platensis. The incorporation of SNP at 1 and 10 g/kg in Nile tilapia diets significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced total protein, albumin, globulin, lowered the values of serum glucose and activities of ALT and AST compared with control and spirulina groups. The SOD, CAT, GPx, lysozyme and respiratory burst activities were meaningfully promoted (p < 0.05) in fish received 1 and 10 g/kg diet concerning the control and spirulina groups. Nile tilapia challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila showed congestion of the kidney, liver and spleen tissues while SNP alleviated the inflammation induced by A. hydrophila. Different levels of SNP-incorporated group showed lower cumulative mortality than the other groups. In conclusion, the obtained results illustrated that spirulina in nano form is recommended to enhance Nile tilapia well-being.     

吉富尼罗罗非鱼Ikaros基因5''调控区的克隆、序列分析及抗无乳链球菌相关SNP位点筛选

为获得尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)抗链球菌病相关的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)标记,本研究通过染色体步移法克隆了尼罗罗非鱼Ikaros基因5′调控区序列,长度为4178 bp,并使用生物信息学软件对Ikaros基因的启动子和转录调控元件进行预测和分析。利用PCR产物直接测序法从亲本(P0)尼罗罗非鱼Ikaros基因5′调控区中筛查到5个SNPs,分别为SNP1(g.562,GA)、SNP2(g.217,GT)、SNP3(g.–53,CT)、SNP4(g.–220,TC)和SNP5(g.–579,TC)。利用Snapshot技术对子一代(F1)尼罗罗非鱼易感群体和抗病群体进行相应SNPs的基因分型,分析两个群体遗传多样性参数,结果显示多态信息含量(polymorphism information content,PIC)值在0.0872~0.3747之间,表明Ikaros基因5′调控区中所有SNPs的多态性均较低。Ikaros基因5′调控区SNPs与抗链球菌病性状关联分析结果表明,SNP2、SNP3、SNP4和SNP5的基因型频率和等位基因频率在易感群体和抗病群体中存在显著差异(P0.05)。连锁不平衡分析结果显示Ikaros基因5′调控区SNPs可形成1个单倍块和5种单倍型,其中GGCTT单倍型与抗病性显著相关(P0.05),GGTCT和GTCCC单倍型与易感性显著相关(P0.05)。此外,还发现SNP2和SNP5处于完全连锁状态(r~2=1,LOD=57.25,D′=1),可作为罗非鱼抗链球菌病遗传育种的标签SNP。综上所述,在Ikaros基因5?调控区筛选到4个抗链球菌病相关SNPs和1个单倍型(GGCTT),均可作为尼罗罗非鱼分子育种的候选分子标记。     

草鱼MSTN-1基因多态性及与早期生长性状和肌肉成分关联分析

为研究草鱼MSTN-1基因多态性及与早期生长性状和肌肉成分的相关性,本研究扩增出全长为3824 bp的草鱼MSTN-1基因,用长江选育草鱼群体对MSTN-1基因多态性进行筛选和验证。结果共发现3个多态性位点(Locus 1:C1799T,野生型EE/突变型EF;Locus2:C1842T,野生型HH/突变型HI;Locus 3:TGAAGCGCTGGTTCT/2585-,野生型BB/缺失型BD)。利用一般线性模型分析3个位点及其组合型(剔除个体数少于3的组合)与生长性状和肌肉成分的相关性,发现2个位点对幼鱼生长性状表型差异有显著影响,但3个位点对肌肉成分差异均无显著影响。多重比较发现,单倍型HI突变组的体长和体质量显著高于HH野生组,BD突变组的体长和体质量显著性低于BB野生组;多倍型中存在HI突变组合的体长、体质量均显著高于其他组,存在BD突变的组合在体长性状方面显著低于其他组。表明草鱼MSTN-1基因3个SNPs中,HI突变是对草鱼生长性状的有利突变,BD突变是不利突变,而EF突变无显著影响,可将MSTN-1基因作为分子标记辅助草鱼选育的候选基因。     

缢蛏EGFR基因内含子1内SNP位点多态性与生长性状相关性

为研究缢蛏表皮生长因子受体基因(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP)与生长性状(壳长、壳宽、壳高和体质量)的相关性。本实验利用直接测序法从缢蛏EGFR基因的第一个内含子序列中共筛选到17个SNP位点。卡方检验结果显示,在17个位点中,有13个位点符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,位点多态性检测显示17个位点中有10个位点表现为中等多态性(0.25PIC0.5)。利用一般线性模型(general linear model,GLM)及多重比较对缢蛏EGFR基因中17个SNPs的多态性与生长性状(壳长、壳宽、壳高和体质量)进行相关性分析,结果显示,16个SNP位点均与缢蛏的壳长、壳宽、壳高及体质量呈显著性相关。由此可见,EGFR基因可作为缢蛏生长性状改良的候选辅助分子标记,并且为进一步研究其生长相关功能奠定基础。     

大口黑鲈肌球蛋白重链基因SNPs的筛选及与生长性状的关联

肌球蛋白是肌肉细胞的重要组成成分,影响肌纤维的组成和肌肉生长。为了研究肌球蛋白重链(MYH)基因多态性与大口黑鲈生长性状的相关性,本研究采用PCR技术扩增得到编码区序列全长为9759 bp的大口黑鲈MYH基因,该基因包含37个外显子和36个内含子,编码1940个氨基酸。采用直接测序法在MYH基因上筛选到8个单核苷酸多态性标记(SNP)位点(A-305G、G-558C、A-2784C、A-2816G、T-4765A、C-6206T、C-6811T和G-6935T),有4个位于外显子上,其中2个属于同义突变。用SNa Pshot方法对从同批繁殖、同塘养殖的大口黑鲈"优鲈1号"群体中随机选取的430尾个体中各位点的基因型进行检测。结果显示,内含子上的A-2784C和A-2816G位点完全连锁,所有位点在大口黑鲈"优鲈1号"群体中的平均有效等位基因数、平均观测杂合度和平均期望杂合度分别为1.635、0.406和0.373,仅C-6206T、C-6811T和T-4765A位点的基因型频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg定律。采用一般线性模型分析各位点与大口黑鲈生长性状之间的相关性,研究发现,C-6811T位点CC基因型个体的体质量和全长显著大于TT基因型,CC基因型个体的体高和尾柄长显著大于CT和TT基因型,其余位点不同基因型个体间的生长性状均不存在显著差异。C-6811T位点与生长性状显著相关,可作为大口黑鲈分子标记辅助育种的候选标记。     

Growth and survival rate of three genetic groups fed 28% and 34% protein diets

The strain by nutrition interaction in body weight and survival rate was examined by testing three genetic groups (Selection and Control lines of the GIFT strain, and Red tilapia) at two levels of protein in the diet (28% and 34%). The GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been selected for high‐breeding values for body weight, whereas the Control was contemporaneously maintained and selected for breeding values of body weight close to the population mean. The Red tilapia (Oreochromis spp) was unselected at the time of the experiment. There were a total of 6000 fish at stocking in the study (2000 fish per genetic group). During the grow‐out period of 147 days, within each genetic group, the fish were randomly assigned to either a 28% or a 34% protein diet. Survival rate during grow‐out averaged 72%. A total of 4335 fish were harvested, with individual body measurements and survival recorded. The effect of genetic group accounted for the largest proportion of variation in body weight and survival, followed by sex and protein level. Across the two dietary protein levels, the GIFT strain had the highest growth. The difference in body weight between the Control and Red tilapia was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Responses in growth to dietary protein levels also differed between genetic groups. No differences (P > 0.05) in body weight were found in the GIFT selection and Control fish fed 28% or 34% protein diets. However, body weight of Red tilapia was greater in the high‐ than in the low‐protein diet. In contrast to body weight, survival rate from stocking to harvest was affected by protein level. The high‐protein diet significantly improved survival rate, averaging 24% across the three strains. The overall results indicate significant effects of genetic group and dietary protein level on both body weight and survival rate; however, the interaction between strain and dietary protein levels was small and possibly unimportant for these traits. It is concluded that the 28% protein diet used in the selection programme for the GIFT strain results in the selection of genotypes that can perform well under commercial feeds.     

A comparative study of growth and feed utilization efficiency of sex-reversed diploid and triploid Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L.

Growth performance, survival and feed utilization of diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) sex‐reversed male and female Nile tilapia were evaluated at maintenance feeding (1% body weight (BW) day^?1), fixed feeding (3% BW day^?1) and apparent satiation feeding levels in a freshwater recirculation system comprised of thirty‐six 1‐m³ concrete tanks at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand. Triploid Nile tilapia (3n) was produced by subjecting fertilized diploid (2n) tilapia eggs to heat shock. After hatching, fish were sex‐reversed to all‐male and all‐female populations by oral administration of 17 α‐methyltestosterone (60 mg kg^?1 feed) and ethynylestradiol (100 mg kg^?1 feed) respectively. There was significantly higher growth with increased ration levels in both male and female groups. There were no significant differences in final BW, specific growth rate, survival rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio between diploid and triploid fish. Triploids had lower gonad weights than diploids, and this was particularly evident at the satiation feeding level. Triploid fish had a significantly higher apparent net protein utilization and percentage of gutted weight than diploids at all feeding levels. Higher protein utilization efficiency of triploids might be an advantage for commercial tilapia culture but further research is necessary to make such a conclusion.     

Development and evaluation of a high‐throughput single nucleotide polymorphism multiplex assay for assigning pedigrees in common carp

Accurate pedigree information is critical when managing animal breeding programmes and ensure the highest rate of genetic gain. The abundance of available genomic data and the development of high‐throughput genotyping platforms have facilitated the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as the best DNA markers for genomic selection studies. Furthermore, the superior qualities of SNPs compared with those of microsatellite markers allow standardization between laboratories, which is crucial for developing an international set of markers for use in traceability studies. The objective of this study was to develop a high‐throughput SNP array to assign common carp pedigrees accurately. A 48‐SNP array was developed based on the Fluidigm genotyping platform, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed to distinguish different pedigrees. A likelihood‐based approach was used to infer parental pairs, and the pair with the highest LOD score (log of the ratio of the likelihood given parentage to likelihood given non‐parentage) was assigned. The SNP genotypes of the offspring and candidate parents tested were collected, and 94% of the offspring were assigned to the most‐likely parent pair, which was consistent with the actual pedigree records. Using this SNP assay will allow implementation of offspring testing at large commercial farms where improved accuracy of pedigree assignments and genetic evaluations will increase genetic gains in the common carp aquaculture industry.     

Comparative study of growth performance of three strains of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, L. at two stocking densities

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of stocking density (125 or 200 fish m^?3) on the growth performance of three strains of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: the non‐improved strain (NS), the genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) and the Freshwater Aquaculture Center selected tilapia known as the FaST selected line (SL). Each strain and density combination was triplicated in 0.42 m³ fibreglass tanks within a re‐circulating water system. Water temperature was maintained at 29.0±1.0°C. Large Nile tilapia having a mean body weight of 100–110 g were stocked in each tank and hand‐fed four times daily with commercial tilapia pellets (35% protein) for 104 days. Results showed that at the two stocking densities, the GIFT and SL strains showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) mean weight (MWT), daily growth rate (DGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross yield (GY) than the NS. In all three strains, growth performance was negatively affected by stocking density. The lower density (125 fish m^?3) treatments had significantly higher MWT, DGR and SGR than the higher density one (200 fish m^?3). However, higher FCR and GY were observed at the higher density. Survival rates were high in all treatments and were not affected by strain or density. In general, the SL strain had better growth parameters than the GIFT strain. The findings of this study demonstrated the superior growth performance of the improved strains at both densities compared with the NS. The higher density (200 fish m^?3) could be more profitable for the tilapia farms in Kuwait than the lower density of (125 fish m^?3) in terms of reduced land cost and facilities, demand on the limited low‐salinity underground water and manpower.