Construction of a high-density linkage map and fine mapping of QTL for growth in Asian seabass

• Main Authors: Wang, Le, Wan, Zi Yi, Bai, Bin, Huang, Shu Qing, Chua, Elaine, Lee, May, Pang, Hong Yan, Wen, Yan Fei, Liu, Peng, Liu, Feng, Sun, Fei, Lin, Grace, Ye, Bao Qing, Yue, Gen Hua
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/81093; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39057
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A high-density genetic map is essential for comparative genomic studies and fine mapping of QTL, and can also facilitate genome sequence assembly. Here, a high density genetic map of Asian seabass was constructed with 3321 SNPs generated by sequencing 144 individuals in a F2 family. The length of the map was 1577.67 cM with an average marker interval of 0.52 cM. A high level of genomic synteny among Asian seabass, European seabass, Nile tilapia and stickleback was detected. Using this map, one genome-wide significant and five suggestive QTL for growth traits were detected in six linkage groups (i.e. LG4, LG5, LG11, LG13, LG14 and LG15). These QTL explained 10.5–16.0% of phenotypic variance. A candidate gene, ACOX1 within the significant QTL on LG5 was identified. The gene was differentially expressed between fast- and slow-growing Asian seabass. The high-density SNP-based map provides an important tool for fine mapping QTL in molecular breeding and comparative genome analysis.