Heritability estimates for growth‐related traits in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) using a molecular pedigree |
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| Authors: | Ning Kong Qi Li Hong Yu Ling‐Feng Kong |
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| Affiliation: | Key Laboratory of Mariculture Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China |
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| Abstract: | Pacific oyster is one of the leading species in world aquaculture, but heritability estimation applying mixed‐family approach has not been actively pursued. In this study, heritability for growth‐related traits in the Pacific oyster was first estimated by creating a single cohort of 45 families in a full‐factorial mating design consisting of nine sires and five dams. A total of 270 offspring were analysed and parentage assignment inferred by six microsatellite markers achieved 100% success. All parents contributed to the spawn and a total of 42 full‐sib families were represented. Using an animal model, heritability estimates at 12 months of age were 0.49 ± 0.25 for shell height, 0.36 ± 0.19 for shell length, 0.45 ± 0.23 for shell width and 0.35 ± 0.17 for wet weight. Genetic correlation between shell height and wet weight was quite high (0.79 ± 0.25), suggesting that direct selection of shell height, which is an easily measurable trait, also improves wet weight. The results obtained in this study indicate that growth‐related traits could be improved by exploiting additive genetic effects through selective breeding. |
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| Keywords: | Pacific oyster growth‐related traits microsatellites heritability genetic correlations parentage assignment |
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