Genetic variability of selected populations of yellow perch over six generations of commercial-scale marker-aided cohort selection for growth

Abstract Text:

ABSTRACT: In total 3,318 broodfish and 600 random fish from two overlapping lines (L-1 and L-2) consisting six generations of selected populations and a random population were genotyped using eight microsatellite markers to investigate genetic structure and diversity among and within these generations. Global heterozygosity values of L-1 and L-2 generations ranged from 0.76-0.80 and 0.85-0.88, respectively. Cohort-specific heterozygosity ranged from 0.53-0.95, suggesting it was well maintained during the course of selection. Global inbreeding coefficient values (F_is) for L-1 (0.03) and L-2 (0.04) were found close to zero, while generation specific F_is values were less than zero ranging from -0.18 to -0.08, indicating heterozygote abundance and clarifying that inbreeding was avoided over six generations of selection. Effective population size (N_e) ranged from 1,013.7 to 394.2 in all broodfish generations. The genetic distance among the 7 populations ranged from 0.002 to 0.228.

Keywords:

Yellow perch

Cohort selection

Genetic variability