Can genetic diversity be maintained during mass selection of the Chinese mitten crab,Eriocheir sinensis?

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is an important aquaculture species and food source in Eastern Asia. This study assesses the changes in genetic diversity in successive generations of early‐ and late‐maturing strains of E. sinensis using 30 microsatellite markers with high polymorphism. The mean average number of alleles (N) in the founder population (G0), first generation (G1), second generation (G2) and third generation (G3) of the early‐maturing strain were 18.367, 14.800, 16.400 and 16.533, respectively; while in late‐maturing strain the values were 18.500, 16.267, 14.367 and 16.533 respectively. Likewise, there was a slight decline in average allelic richness (R_s) in the three successive generations. In both strains, the mean observed heterozygosity (H_o) remained relatively constant for the early‐maturing strain and the values were 0.655, 0.667, 0.685 and 0.705, respectively; and for the late‐maturing strain these were 0.665, 0.672, 0.688 and 0.702 respectively. Similarly, the expected heterozygosity (H_e) remained constant, ranging from 0.823 to 0.854. There was a decrease in effective population sizes (N_e) of the early‐maturing strain with successive generations: values were 492.2, 35.0, 134.7 and 193.2, respectively; while the values in the late‐maturing strain were 1268.5, 75.6, 111.5 and 97.2 respectively. All pairwise population distances were very close in both strains. In conclusion, these results suggest that mass selection of E. sinensis did not significantly diminish genetic diversity although there was a decline for the N_e. Therefore, it is important to maintain sufficient broodstock numbers and a large effective population when following a selective breeding programme.     

基于SSR-seq技术评估中间球海胆多代选育群体和普通养殖群体的遗传多样性

为明确不同选育群体中间球海胆的遗传多样性和遗传结构,利用SSR-seq技术和15个微卫星位点,对1个家系选育群体(FP)、1个群体选育群体(IP)和1个未经选育的普通养殖群体(CP)的遗传多样性及遗传结构进行了分析。结果显示,15个微卫星位点共检测出112个等位基因,FP、IP、CP 3个群体的平均观测等位基因数(N_a)分别为5.077、5.133和6.133个,平均有效等位基因(N_e)分别为2.816、2.873和3.638个,平均观测杂合度(H_o)分别为0.522、0.441和0.501,平均期望杂合度(H_e)分别为0.595、0.599和0.667,平均多态性信息含量(PIC)分别为0.546、0.543和0.623。家系选育群体(FP) H_e与H_o的差值(0.073)低于IP (0.158)和CP (0.166),平均固定指数(F)(0.115)低于IP (0.248)和CP (0.246)。3个群体间遗传分化系数(F_st)介...     

Genetic monitoring of broodstocks of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in a closed rearing system in Pernambuco,Brazil

Loss of genetic variability can be detrimental to a population's survival traits and fitness. These effects are likely to be maximized in shrimp closed broodstock rearing systems where post‐larvae are often produced from crosses of breeders collected from an associated grow‐out farm after mass selection. Longtime broodstock management in closed systems is also expected to lead to reduction in or even complete eradication of genetic variability. The present work aimed at monitoring the genetic variability of a Litopenaeus vannamei hatchery in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil), during three successive replacements, using microsatellite markers. No significant genetic diversity losses have been observed through the values of mean heterozygosity (H_o=0.460 and H_e=0.660 in the first sample; H_o=0.420 and H_e=0.620 in the second sample; and H_o=0.600 and H_e=0.660 in the third sample). However, some alleles appear to have been lost after three replacements. The diversity level was considered to be high and is comparable to those reported for wild populations, suggesting that the original imported founder stock of Brazilian L. vannamei is likely to have had a high genetic diversity, possibly due to multiple origins.     

棘头梅童鱼七个野生群体遗传多样性的微卫星分析

为研究中国沿海地区棘头梅童鱼群体的遗传多样性,利用微卫星标记技术,采用9对微卫星引物对中国连云港(LYG)、大丰(DF)、崇明(CM)、舟山(ZS)、温州(WZ)、宁德(ND)、厦门(XM)棘头梅童鱼7个野生群体的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行了分析。结果显示,实验检测到63个等位基因,各位点等位基因数为3~13个,有效等位基因数为1.7510~8.0317;各位点的观测杂合度(Ho)为0.3596~0.7854,期望杂合度(He)为0.4300~0.8780;多态信息含量(PIC)为0.3604~0.8631,其中有2个位点表现为中度多态(0.25PIC0.5),7个位点表现为高度多态(PIC0.5),具有较丰富的遗传多样性水平。Hardy-Weinber平衡分析显示,7个群体的大部分位点未偏离平衡。基于群体间Nei氏标准遗传距离构建的7个野生群体UPGMA系统进化树结果显示,ND和WZ群体遗传关系最近,ZS和WZ群体遗传关系最远,WZ和ND聚为一支,但总体上没有显著的遗传分化。     

Genetic divergence in Indian populations of M. rosenbergii using microsatellite markers

Macrobrachium rosenbergii, known as the giant freshwater prawn or Malaysian prawn, is the sixth largest aquaculture species in Asia. Knowledge of genetic diversity of M. rosenbergii is important to support management and conservation programmes, which will subsequently help in sustainable production of this economically important species. This study aimed to analyse the genetic diversity and population structure of five M. rosenbergii populations using 11 microsatellite loci. In analysing 240 samples, the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity (H_O) and expected heterozygosity (H_E) ranged from 3 to 20, from 0.250 to 0.978 and from 0.556 to 0.944 respectively. The five stocks of M. rosenbergii displayed high level of genetic diversity. Both the F_ST and amova analyses showed that there was significant genetic differentiation among all populations. The UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei's genetic distance matrix revealed that the Narmada and Mahi populations were in one cluster and Mahanadi and Subarnarekha populations in another single major branch, whereas the Kerala population clearly showed a separate cluster. This information on genetic variation will be useful for genetic improvement and conservation of Indian populations of giant freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii.     

利用微卫星荧光多重PCR技术分析壳白长牡蛎3代人工选育群体的遗传多样性

为了探讨壳白长牡蛎人工选育对群体遗传变异的影响,实验利用4个多重PCR组合共10个微卫星标记分析了连续3代壳白长牡蛎人工选育群体和野生群体及基础群体的遗传多样性。结果发现,6个群体的平均等位基因数量为7.2~12.6,等位基因丰度为6.8~11.0,期望和观测杂合度分别为0.672~0.769和0.486~0.542;与野生群体相比,3代选育群体的平均等位基因数显著降低,但平均期望杂合度并无显著差异。哈迪—温伯格平衡检验结果显示,在60个群体—位点组合中有39个群体—位点组合显著偏离哈迪—温伯格平衡,近交系数F_(is)范围为0.215~0.342。群体间遗传分化指数F_(st)范围为0.005~0.076,处于中—低等的遗传分化水平。研究表明,虽然连续选育对群体的遗传多样性和遗传分化造成了一定程度的影响,但人工选育群体依然表现为较高的遗传多样性,仍可以一定的选择压力对选育群体进行人工选育。     

福瑞鲤与豫选黄河鲤选育群体的遗传结构及亲本间遗传距离分布

用微卫星标记分析了鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio L.)的2个品种福瑞鲤和豫选黄河鲤选育群体的遗传结构,并揭示了雌雄个体间遗传距离的分布规律。结果表明,23个微卫星标记在福瑞鲤(FR,n=192)和豫选黄河鲤(YX,n=96)中各检测到160个和131个等位基因。福瑞鲤的平均有效等位基因数(N_e)、观测杂合度(H_o)、期望杂合度(H_e)和多态信息含量(PIC)分别为4.559、0.695、0.741和0.702,群体处于高度多态水平(PIC≥0.5);豫选黄河鲤的4项遗传多样性参数分别为3.620、0.665、0.642和0.600。虽然豫选黄河鲤同样处于高度多态水平(PIC≥0.5),但是N_e、H_e和PIC均极显著低于福瑞鲤(P0.01),说明福瑞鲤的杂交选育背景决定了其较系统选育的豫选黄河鲤具有较多的来源于不同亲本的等位基因;而两者H_o差异不显著(P0.05),说明豫选黄河鲤种内也保持了较高的遗传杂合度。分别统计福瑞鲤与豫选黄河鲤雌雄个体间的遗传距离,结果表明两两雌雄个体间遗传距离呈正态分布。福瑞鲤个体间遗传距离的中间值位于0.8~1.0,占37.39%;而豫选黄河鲤个体间遗传距离中间值位于0.5~0.7,占49.33%。建议福瑞鲤和豫选黄河鲤在家系配组时,选择亲本间遗传距离阈值范围在0.8~1.0和0.5~0.7为宜。     

大黄鱼微卫星多重PCR体系的建立及其应用

利用本实验室开发的微卫星标记,通过优化退火温度、引物浓度、循环次数等条件,建立了3组大黄鱼微卫星多重PCR体系,每组包含3个微卫星位点,用3组微卫星多重PCR分析了一个大黄鱼选育群体JD-01的遗传多样性。结果显示,该群体的平均等位基因为12.111,平均有效等位基因为7.408,平均多态信息含量为0.846,平均观测杂合度和期望杂合度分别为0.825、0.868,香农多样性指数为2.165。运用Cervus 3.0软件,对已知系谱关系的9个大黄鱼家系及对应亲本进行了亲子鉴定分析,以验证3组微卫星多重PCR在亲子鉴定中的准确性。结果显示,使用该3组微卫星多重PCR体系进行亲子鉴定准确率为100%。大黄鱼微卫星多重PCR体系的建立为分析群体的遗传多样性、亲子鉴定和辅助家系管理提供了一种高效的技术手段。     

利用高通量测序开发的熊本牡蛎微卫星标记评价野生和养殖群体的遗传多样性及通用性

利用高通量测序的方法,从熊本牡蛎基因组中开发了20对具有多态性的微卫星标记,通过微卫星标记位点比较了野生群体和养殖群体的遗传多样性。野生群体中,所有位点共扩增出330个等位基因,等位基因数(N_a)范围为6～39,平均等位基因数为16.500 0;有效等位基因数(N_e)范围为1.352 9～33.361 7,平均值9.517 2;观测杂合度(H_o)范围为0.200 0～1.000 0,平均值0.671 5;期望杂合度(H_e)范围为0.265 6～0.987 7,平均值0.832 1;ShannonWeiner指数(Ⅰ)范围为0.648 3～3.585 8,平均值2.276 9;多态信息含量(PIC)范围为0.254 5～0.969 2,平均值0.803 5,共有16个位点符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。养殖群体中,N_a平均值为10.250 0,N_e平均值为5.843 4,H_o平均值为0.639 1,H_e平均值为0.763 6,I平均值为1.791 4,PIC平均值为0.720 7。结果显示,熊本牡蛎养殖群体的遗传多样性低于野生群体,但仍然维持在高度多态水平。研究表明,在熊本牡蛎人工繁育过程中,使用大数量的亲本进行繁育,可有效防止选育群体的遗传多样性降低,但人工选育对选育群体的遗传多样性也产生了一定的影响。另外,分析了这些引物在近缘种葡萄牙牡蛎、长牡蛎、香港牡蛎、有明牡蛎、僧帽牡蛎、咬齿牡蛎以及舌骨牡蛎中的通用性情况,发现XB1-6、XB1-39和XB1-45 3个位点在8个物种中均能扩增出目的条带,XB1-41仅能在熊本牡蛎中扩增出目的条带。     

草鱼野生与选育群体遗传变异微卫星分析

为探究经过2个选育世代后选育群体遗传多样性和遗传结构的变化,实验采用多重PCR技术对4个野生草鱼群体(邗江、九江、石首、吴江)和2个选育群体(F1和F2)进行了微卫星序列遗传变异分析。结果显示,6个草鱼群体遗传多样性水平较高,2个选育群体除了平均等位基因数外,其他遗传多样性参数均小于4个野生群体。哈迪—温伯格平衡(Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium)检测显示,在120个群体—位点组合中有62个位点显著偏离哈迪—温伯格平衡,62个群体—位点组合中只有11个组合其近交系数值为负值,其余的51个组合的Fis均为正值。6个草鱼群体AMOVA分析结果显示,3.75%的变异来自于群体间,96.25%的变异来自于群体内,整体的遗传分化指数值为0.038。进一步分析各个群体间Fst,只有石首群体与F1、F2群体之间的Fst大于0.05,处于中等分化,其余群体间分化程度较低,且F2群体与4个野生群体之间Fst比F1群体与4个野生群体之间的Fst大。奈氏标准遗传距离分析结果显示,2个选育群体与野生群体之间的遗传距离大于野生群体之间的遗传距离。基于Dn建立的UPGMA系统发育树得出了相同的结果,即2个选育群体与野生群体之间的亲缘关系比4个野生群体之间的亲缘关系要远。研究表明,经过2个世代选育后,相比4个野生群体,2个选育群体遗传多样性虽有部分下降,但仍处于较高的水平,2个选育群体的遗传结构已发生变化,但其遗传分化程度尚不明显。本研究结果为制定出更加完善有效的选育方案提供了重要参考。     

Conservation genetics of the Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) in natural and captive populations

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Parentage Determination and Effective Population Size Estimation in Mass Spawning Pacific Oyster,Crassostrea gigas,Based on Microsatellite Analysis

Seven high polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to determine the pedigrees in a mass spawning of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, and to estimate the genetic variability between broodstock and offspring. Parental assignment was performed on a total of 155 individuals, including 141 offspring, 8 candidate mothers, and 6 candidate fathers. The assignment results of real offspring were generally in agreement with simulation with a success rate over 99% using only six of these loci. The allelic diversity and observed heterozygosity (H_o) exhibited similarity between parents and offspring populations, but the expected heterozygosity (H_e) had a significant decrease in offspring. Although all the males and females contributed to the next generation, the variances of reproductive success and unequal sex ratio resulted in a decline in effective population size (N_e = 11.42). The inbreeding rate of this small‐scale, mass spawning population was estimated at approximately 16.5% per generation. This gave us an insight that when designing breeding programs based on mass spawning for future oyster cultivation generations, the higher inbreeding and lower effective population size should be considered.     

Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with diseased postlarval abalone in Shenzhen, China

Outbreaks of mass mortality of postlarval abalone, Haliotis diversicolor supertexta, have occurred in south China since 2002 and have forced many abalone farms to close. About 30 representative bacterial strains were isolated from a sample of five diseased postlarval abalone, taken 25 days post-fertilization during an outbreak of postlarval disease in Shenzhen, China, in October 2006. Bacterial challenge tests showed that the predominant strain, designated as strain 22, was highly virulent to postlarvae with an LD₅₀ value of 7.8 × 10⁴ colony forming units (CFU) ml⁻¹, while four of the other isolates were weakly virulent with LD₅₀ values ranging from 1 × 10⁶ to 1 × 10⁷ CFU ml⁻¹, and the remaining 25 isolates were classified as avirulent with LD₅₀ values greater than 1 × 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹. By means of API 20NE and 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing analyses, strain 22 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that strain 22 exhibited around 75% of susceptibility to 16 various antibiotics tested. The results of this study show P. aeruginosa as one of the bacteria involved in the mortality of abalone postlarvae in Shenzhen, China.     

Genetic relatedness and differentiation of hatchery populations of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) (Bloch, 1790) broodstock in Thailand inferred from microsatellite genetic markers

After more than 20 years of hatchery production of Asian seabass in Thailand, genetic information is still lacking for effective genetic management and a selective breeding programme. This study aimed to evaluate genetic status of existing hatchery populations and genetic consequences of a selective breeding attempt. We examined genetic relatedness in seven hatchery samples, including a selectively bred population (RACF‐F1), compared with three wild samples using 11 microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity and relatedness values within most hatchery samples, except for RACF‐F1, did not differ from those of wild populations (P > 0.05). RACF‐F1 had the lowest allelic diversity and effective population size (A_r = 6.99; N_e = 7.8) and highest relatedness values (mean r_xy = 0.075–0.204). Pairwise Φ_ST values, principal component analysis and model‐based cluster analyses revealed three genetically distinct hatchery groups: Eastern Thailand (CHN, RACF, NSCF and SKCF), Southern Thailand (NICA) and the Andaman Sea (STCF). Results suggest that exiting domestic populations capture reasonable amount of genetic variation and can be useful for a base population for genetic improvement programmes. In addition, given the rapid increase in relatedness that we observed in one selectively bred population, we recommend using selection methods and hatchery practices that reduce variability in family contribution in the subsequent generations.     

Conservation genetic assessment of the paleback darter,Etheostoma pallididorsum,a narrowly distributed endemic in the Ouachita Highlands,Arkansas, USA

1. The paleback darter, Etheostoma pallididorsum, is considered imperilled and has recently been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Previous allozyme-based studies found evidence of a small effective population size, warranting conservation concern. The objective of this study was to assess the population dynamics and the phylogeographical history of the paleback darter, using a multilocus microsatellite approach and mitochondrial DNA.
2. The predictions of this study were that: paleback darter populations will exhibit low genetic diversity and minimal gene flow; population structure will correspond to the river systems from which the samples are derived; reservoir dams impounding the reaches between the Caddo and Ouachita rivers would serve as effective barriers to gene flow; and the Caddo and Ouachita rivers are reciprocally monophyletic.
3. Microsatellite DNA loci revealed significant structure among sampled localities (global F_st = 0.17, P < 0.001), with evidence of two distinct populations representing the Caddo and Ouachita rivers. However, Bayesian phylogeographical analyses resulted in three distinct clades: Caddo River, Ouachita River, and Mazarn Creek. Divergence from the most recent ancestor shared among the river drainages was estimated at 60 Kya. Population genetic diversity was relatively low (H_e = 0.65; mean alleles per locus, A = 6.26), but was comparable with the population genetic diversity found in the close relatives slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi (H_e = 0.65; A = 6.74), and Tuscumbia darter, Etheostoma tuscumbia (H_e = 0.57; A = 5.53).
4. These results have conservation implications for paleback darter populations and can be informative for other headwater specialist species. Like other headwater species with population structuring and relatively low genetic diversity, the persistence of paleback darter populations is likely to be tied to the persistence and connectivity of local breeding and non-breeding habitat. These results do not raise conservation concern for a population decline; however, the restricted distribution and endemic status of the species still renders paleback darter populations vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.

     

Hybridization between Haliotis rufescens and Haliotis discus hannai: evaluation of fertilization,larval development,growth and thermal tolerance

Two introduced abalone species are currently produced in Chile, red abalone Haliotis rufescens and Japanese abalone Haliotis discus hannai. However, red abalone accounts for 99% of total production, while the Japanese abalone has not adapted well to Chilean coastal waters. This study reports the hatching, growth and thermal tolerance performance in interspecific hybrids produced between red (R) and Japanese (J) abalone. Our results show that egg age and sperm concentration were critical factors to produce hybrids. The cross R♀ × J♂ showed a fertilization rate of 55.3 ± 3.5% using 20‐min‐old eggs and sperm concentrations of 14 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1, while the reciprocal cross (J♀ × R♂) was not successful. Further, larval development stages were similar in RR, JJ and RJ hybrid abalones. Among the experimental trials, settlement rate varied from 12.3% to 18.6% and final survival from 20.1% to 31.7%, being the RJ hybrid rates intermediate between parental species. The final shell lengths were similar between RR and RJ hybrids, but significantly higher in JJ abalones. In addition, thermal tolerance was ascertained due its pivotal role for the abalone physiology. Thus, RJ hybrids showed the highest HSP70 gene expression and offers new possibilities to expand Chilean abalone production in warm waters zones.     

Development of 25 Novel Microsatellite Loci and Genetic Variation Analysis in Breeding Populations of the Pearl Oyster,Pinctada fucata

In this study, we screened 103,050 gene sequences of Pinctada fucata and identified 1450 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) distributing in 1355 sequences, in which 97 have sufficient flanking sequences for primer design, and 25 novel microsatellite loci were stable and polymorphic with N_a which varied from 2 to 6. Six microsatellite loci were found in the open reading frame of their corresponding sequences. With the 25 SSR loci, five breeding populations and a wild population, a total of 240 individuals from wild population (W), three consecutive selected populations (G₁, G_2, and G₃), and two backcross populations (D_o, D_r) (40 individuals per population) were assayed. In these populations, we detected 108 alleles of 111 bp to 362 bp. Each population had mean H_o of 0.5718–0.7366 and mean H_e of 0.5830–0.6954. Except the F_st = 0.0697 (W vs. G₃), pairwise F_st values ranged from 0.0131 to 0.0473, the genetic identity coefficients varied from 0.8688 to 0.9663, and genetic distance ranged from 0.0343 to 0.1307, all of these suggested that the breeding populations had genetic differentiation but at a low level generally. Besides, all the genetic index values, backcross populations (D_o, D_r) were higher than corresponding G₃ values, indicating that backcross could make the offspring incline to the recurrent parents.     

泥蚶生长性状与SSR标记的相关性

泥蚶生长性状属于数量性状,为了筛选与泥蚶生长性状位点连锁的分子标记,本研究以150颗选育品系F4泥蚶为对象,利用12个SSR位点进行生长性状关联分析。对生长性状的相关分析表明,各数量性状之间的相关系数均达到极显著水平,其中壳高与活体质量的相关系数最大(0.930),壳长与活体质量次之(0.927);但通径分析显示,对活体质量直接影响最大的是壳宽(0.431),壳长次之(0.332),决定系数与以上通径分析结果的变化趋势一致。应用SSR位点对选育品系F4泥蚶进行遗传多样性分析,共检测到61个等位基因,等位基因数(Na)为3～8个,平均等位基因和有效等位基因(Ne)分别为5.083和3.038;平均观测杂合度(Ho)、期望杂合度(He)和多态性信息含量(PIC)分别为0.528、0.646和0.594,表明该群体遗传多样性处于较高水平。SSR位点与生长性状相关性分析,结果获得3个标记与生长性状具有显著相关性,其中标记3012-2与壳长、壳宽、壳顶宽显著相关,标记3564与壳高、放射肋宽显著相关,标记2692与壳长显著相关,据此初步确定为与生长性状相关的候选标记。本研究旨在为泥蚶的遗传改良和选择育种提供基础资料。     

Changes of heritability and genetic correlations in production traits over time in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) under culture

Red abalone Haliotis rufescens is one of the most valuable mollusks in the international market, but it has a low growth rate. A breeding program is being developed to increase its growth rate in Chile. We estimated the changes in direct heritability (h²), maternal/common environments heritability (m²) and genetic correlations (r_G) of growth traits (shell length and width, total mass, flesh mass and foot protein as an indicator of meat quality) measured during 2 years (every 4 months) from the juvenile stage (27 months) to the adult harvesting age (51 months), in 60 full‐sib red abalone families. Heritabilities for growth traits measured in juveniles and young adults (27–35 months of age), were low (0.07–0.17) and not significant. Initial low h² were associated with significant amounts of maternal/common environmental effects (m² = 0.4). In young adults and abalone near the harvest age (39–51 months of age) h² were much higher (0.32–0.75). These results emphasize the importance of multiple estimations of h² over time. Among meat quality traits, only the h² for the flesh mass for adults at harvesting age was significant (0.15). We observed strong positive r_G (>0.9) between shell sizes (easy to measure) and total and flesh masses (trait more related to market value than shell sizes but harder to measure) for adults at harvesting age. Thus, if the 5% largest 51 month old abalone were selected from the population as broodstock we expect a positively correlated response on flesh mass of 23.4%.     

Polymorphic microsatellite differences among four cultured populations of two selected tilapia strains

Genetic diversity plays a vital role for maintaining economically important traits in fish populations. The goal of this study was to assess the genetic variability among four tilapia populations in China. Two populations named XA (Oreochromis aureus, 30 samples) and AN (Egyptian Oreochromis niloticus, 24 samples) were gathered from Freshwater Fisheries Research Center (FFRC), and the other two named AL (O. aureus, 30 samples) and AJ (Egyptian O. niloticus, 30 samples) were from Guangxi Fisheries Research Institute (GFRI). GFRI introduced AL and AJ from XA and AN, and selected them for generations. We want to know if AL and AJ have genetic changes after selection and generations. Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were used. Our results indicated that the four tilapia populations showed moderate genetic variability. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of the four populations was from 0.28 to 0.39; A_e was from 1.67 to 2.15; the H_e was from 0.35 to 0.46; the genetic similarity indexes were from 0.94 to 0.69 and also the clustering result showed that these four populations were highly related. There were no significant changes in genetic variation between late‐introduced population and early‐introduced population of O. aureus. Our results helped to understand the genetic variability of tilapia populations in China and for future marker‐assisted selection for important economic traits.