Search

Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), caused by Cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3), is one of the most serious threats to carp farming. In the present study, we investigated the efficiency of a low-density (LD) SNP panel for estimating genetic parameters and breeding values to KHVD resistance in the Amur mirror carp (AMC). Two populations (Pop 1 and Pop 2) of AMC generated from unrelated parents were created using a partial factorial design. One-year old fish (Pop 1 = 1500 individuals.; Pop 2 = 1200 individuals) were challenged with CyHV-3 and phe-notyped to KHVD resistance. 218 SNPs originating from a medium genotyping platform previously applied to Pop 1 (15615 SNPs; denoted as MD panel) with the highest association to KHVD resistance were used as a LD panel to genotype individuals of Pop 2. Genetic parameters and estimated pedigree-based BLUP (EBV) and genomic-based GBLUP (GEBV_MD and GEBV_LD) breeding values were calculated and obtained for Pop 1 using either pedigree, MD or LD panel and for Pop 2 using either pedigree or the LD panel. The heritability estimates of KHVD resistance were very high for both populations ranging from 0.42 to 0.96. Selection for KHVD resistance in Pop 2 using the LD panel would have led to a relative increase of similar to 7% in prediction accuracy compared to the pedigree-based selection. Pearson correlation coefficients between pedigree-based and genomic-based estimated breeding values (EBV vs. GEBV_MD; EBV vs. GEBV_LD; GEBV_MD vs. GEBV_LD) showed a strong association for both populations (0.79 - 0.91). In addition, the concordance rate of individuals selected by pedigree-based (EBV) and genomic-based breeding values (GEBV_MD and GEBV_LD) within selection pressures of 5%, 10% and 20% were not statistically different in most cases. In conclusion, the low-density SNP panel could be useful for a selection program focused on the genetic improvement of KHVD resistance.

Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a niche-market high-value species for Nordic aquaculture. Similar to other salmonids, both anadromous and landlocked populations are encountered. Whole-genome re-sequencing (22X coverage) was performed on two farmed populations of anadromous (Sigerfjord; n = 24) and landlocked (Arctic Superior; n = 24) origin from Norway and Sweden respectively. More than 5 million SNPs were used to study their genetic diversity and to scan for selection signatures. The two populations were clearly distinguished through principal component analysis, with the mean fixation index being similar to 0.12. Furthermore, the levels of genomic inbreeding estimated from runs of homozygosity were 6.23% and 8.66% for the Norwegian and the Swedish population respectively. Biological processes that could be linked to selection pressure associated primarily with the anadromous background and/or secondarily with domestication were suggested. Overall, our study provided insights regarding the genetic composition of two main strains of farmed Arctic charr from Scandinavia. At the same time, ample genomic resources were produced in the magnitude of millions of SNPs that could assist the transition of Nordic Arctic charr farming in the genomics era.

Routine implementation of genomic information for guiding selection decisions is not yet common in the majority of aquaculture species. Reduced representation sequencing approaches offer a cost-effective solution for obtaining genome-wide information in species with a limited availability of genomic resources. In the current study, we implemented double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) on an Arctic charr strain with the longest known history of selection (approximately 40 years) aiming to improve selection decisions. In total, 1730 animals reared at four different farms in Sweden and spanning from year classes 2013-2017 were genotyped using ddRAD-seq. Approximately 5000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, genetic diversity-related metrics were estimated, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for body length at different time points and age of sexual maturation were conducted. Low genetic differentiation amongst animals from the different farms was observed based on both the results from pairwise F-st values and principal component analysis (PCA). The existence of associations was investigated between the mean genome-wide heterozygosity of each full-sib family (year class 2017) and the corresponding inbreeding coefficient or survival to the eyed stage. A moderate correlation (-0.33) was estimated between the mean observed heterozygosity of each full-sib family and the corresponding inbreeding coefficient, while no linear association was obtained with the survival to the eyed stage. GWAS did not detect loci with major effect for any of the studied traits. However, genomic regions explaining more than 1% of the additive genetic variance for either studied traits were suggested across 14 different chromosomes. Overall, key insights valuable for future selection decisions of Arctic charr have been obtained, suggesting ddRAD as an attractive genotyping platform for obtaining genome-wide information in a cost-effective manner.

Additional file 1. Estimates of Ne (logarithmic scale) across the last 100 generations for each population analysed. Straight lines represent estimates obtained using data from parents and dashed lines represent estimates obtained using data from offspring.

Additional file 2. Estimates of Ne (logarithmic scale) obtained with the LD method of Hayes et al. [5] across the last 100 generations for each population analysed.

Additional file 3. Estimates of Ne (logarithmic scale) obtained by computer simulations with the LD methods of Hayes et al. [5] and Santiago et al. [6], using the software SLiM3 [48].

Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) is a species of paramount importance to the Mediterranean aquaculture industry, with an annual production exceeding 140,000 metric tons. Pasteurellosis due to the Gram-negative bacterium Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp) causes significant mortality, especially during larval and juvenile stages, and poses a serious threat to bream production. Selective breeding for improved resistance to pasteurellosis is a promising avenue for disease control, and the use of genetic markers to predict breeding values can improve the accuracy of selection, and allow accurate calculation of estimated breeding values of nonchallenged animals. In the current study, a population of 825 sea bream juveniles, originating from a factorial cross between 67 broodfish (32 sires, 35 dams), were challenged by 30 min immersion with 1 × 105 CFU virulent Phdp. Mortalities and survivors were recorded and sampled for genotyping by sequencing. The restriction-site associated DNA sequencing approach, 2b-RAD, was used to generate genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes for all samples. A high-density linkage map containing 12,085 SNPs grouped into 24 linkage groups (consistent with the karyotype) was constructed. The heritability of surviving days (censored data) was 0.22 (95% highest density interval: 0.11–0.36) and 0.28 (95% highest density interval: 0.17–0.4) using the pedigree and the genomic relationship matrix respectively. A genome-wide association study did not reveal individual SNPs significantly associated with resistance at a genome-wide significance level. Genomic prediction approaches were tested to investigate the potential of the SNPs obtained by 2b-RAD for estimating breeding values for resistance. The accuracy of the genomic prediction models (r = 0.38–0.46) outperformed the traditional BLUP approach based on pedigree records (r = 0.30). Overall results suggest that major quantitative trait loci affecting resistance to pasteurellosis were not present in this population, but highlight the effectiveness of 2b-RAD genotyping by sequencing for genomic selection in a mass spawning fish species.

Cyprinids are the most important group of farmed fish globally in terms of production volume, with common carp (Cyprinus carpio) being one of the most valuable species of the group. The use of modern selective breeding methods in carp is at a formative stage, implying a large scope for genetic improvement of key production traits. In the current study, a population of 1,425 carp juveniles, originating from a partial factorial cross between 40 sires and 20 dams, was used for investigating the potential of genomic selection (GS) for juvenile growth, an exemplar polygenic production trait. RAD sequencing was used to identify and genotype SNP markers for subsequent parentage assignment, construction of a medium density genetic map (12,311 SNPs), genome-wide association study (GWAS), and testing of GS. A moderate heritability was estimated for body length of carp at 120 days (as a proxy of juvenile growth) of 0.33 (s.e. 0.05). No genome-wide significant QTL was identified using a single marker GWAS approach. Genomic prediction of breeding values outperformed pedigree-based prediction, resulting in 18% improvement in prediction accuracy. The impact of reduced SNP densities on prediction accuracy was tested by varying minor allele frequency (MAF) thresholds, with no drop in prediction accuracy until the MAF threshold is set

Gel images of SNP assays for SphI8298 and SphI6331. (PDF 209Â kb)

Male only map of all SNP markers. The positions on the left side of chromosomes are the distance in centi Morgan (cM), Detailed data is provided in Table S2. (PDF 850Â kb)

Female only map of all SNP markers. The positions on the left side of chromosomes are the distance in centi Morgan (cM), Detailed data is provided in Table S2. (PDF 849Â kb)

Background: European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most important species for European aquaculture. Viral nervous necrosis (VNN), commonly caused by the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), can result in high levels of morbidity and mortality, mainly during the larval and juvenile stages of cultured sea bass. In the absence of efficient therapeutic treatments, selective breeding for host resistance offers a promising strategy to control this disease. Our study aimed at investigating genetic resistance to VNN and genomic-based approaches to improve disease resistance by selective breeding. A population of 1538 sea bass juveniles from a factorial cross between 48 sires and 17 dams was challenged with RGNNV with mortalities and survivors being recorded and sampled for genotyping by the RAD sequencing approach. Results: We used genome-wide genotype data from 9195 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for downstream analysis. Estimates of heritability of survival on the underlying scale for the pedigree and genomic relationship matrices were 0.27 (HPD interval 95%: 0.14-0.40) and 0.43 (0.29-0.57), respectively. Classical genome-wide association analysis detected genome-wide significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to VNN on chromosomes (unassigned scaffolds in the case of 'chromosome' 25) 3, 20 and 25 (P < 1e06). Weighted genomic best linear unbiased predictor provided additional support for the QTL on chromosome 3 and suggested that it explained 4% of the additive genetic variation. Genomic prediction approaches were tested to investigate the potential of using genome-wide SNP data to estimate breeding values for resistance to VNN and showed that genomic prediction resulted in a 13% increase in successful classification of resistant and susceptible animals compared to pedigree-based methods, with Bayes A and Bayes B giving the highest predictive ability. Conclusions: Genome-wide significant QTL were identified but each with relatively small effects on the trait. Tests of genomic prediction suggested that incorporating genome-wide SNP data is likely to result in higher accuracy of estimated breeding values for resistance to VNN. RAD sequencing is an effective method for generating such genomewide SNPs, and our findings highlight the potential of genomic selection to breed farmed European sea bass with improved resistance to VNN.