Identification of quantitative trait loci for growth traits in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

• Published in: Aquaculture and fisheries 2023-11, Vol.8 (6), p.727-736
• Main Authors: Sun, Junxiao, Luo, Cuirong, Peng, Bo, Peng, Guohui, Tan, Yunfei, Bai, Xufeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Association analysis; Growth-related traits; Quantitative trait loci; Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii); Simple sequence repeats
• ISSN: 2468-550X; 2468-550X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2023.01.005

Genetic breeding is an important approach to improve the economic traits of aquaculture animals. Unfortunately, the genetic basis for important economic traits of red swamp crayfish, including growth-related traits, has not yet been reported. In the present study, two full-sib families and two natural populations were employed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for growth-related traits of red swamp crayfish. In total, 28 QTLs for five growth-related traits, including body weight, body length, carapace length, carapace width, and abdomen length, were repeatedly identified in more than two families/populations, by means of association analysis; nine of these displayed a heterosis effect. The phenotypic variations of the five investigated traits explained by the 28 QTLs ranged from 4.2% to 19.0%. Eight additive and three heterosis QTLs were further successfully validated using comparative analysis of favoured alleles between the small and big size crayfish groups in the natural population. In conclusion, this study investigated the genetic basis of growth-related traits in red swamp crayfish, which is of great significance for their application in the future molecular breeding of the species. •Association analysis was performed in crayfish.•Twenty-eight quantitative trait loci for growth-related traits in crayfish were identified.•A heterosis effect was examined in nine of the quantitative trait loci.•An ideal strategy was proposed for future crayfish breeding.