Identification of a quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with ammonia tolerance in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Digang Zeng,
Chunling Yang,
Qiangyong Li,
Weilin Zhu,
Xiuli Chen,
Min Peng,
Xiaohan Chen,
Yong Lin,
Huanling Wang,
Hong Liu,
Jingzhen Liang,
Qingyun Liu,
Yongzhen Zhao
Affiliations
Digang Zeng
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Chunling Yang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Qiangyong Li
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Weilin Zhu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Xiuli Chen
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Min Peng
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Xiaohan Chen
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Yong Lin
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Huanling Wang
Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Fishery, Huazhong Agriculture University
Hong Liu
Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Fishery, Huazhong Agriculture University
Jingzhen Liang
Life Science Research Institute, Guangxi University
Qingyun Liu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Yongzhen Zhao
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences
Abstract Background Ammonia is one of the most common toxicological environment factors affecting shrimp health. Although ammonia tolerance in shrimp is closely related to successful industrial production, few genetic studies of this trait are available. Results In this study, we constructed a high-density genetic map of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq). The constructed genetic map contained 17,338 polymorphic markers spanning 44 linkage groups, with a total distance of 6360.12 centimorgans (cM) and an average distance of 0.37 cM. Using this genetic map, we identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that explained 7.41–8.46% of the phenotypic variance in L. vannamei survival time under acute ammonia stress. We then sequenced the transcriptomes of the most ammonia-tolerant and the most ammonia-sensitive individuals from each of four genetically distinct L. vannamei families. We found that 7546 genes were differentially expressed between the ammonia-tolerant and ammonia-sensitive individuals. Using QTL analysis and the transcriptomes, we identified one candidate gene (annotated as an ATP synthase g subunit) associated with ammonia tolerance. Conclusions In this study, we constructed a high-density genetic map of L. vannamei and identified a QTL for ammonia tolerance. By combining QTL and transcriptome analyses, we identified a candidate gene associated with ammonia tolerance. Our work provides the basis for future genetic studies focused on molecular marker-assisted selective breeding.
