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Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits in a hatchery population of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

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Abstract

The gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) is one of the most important marine fish species produced in southern European countries. Over the last two decades, microsatellites have become a powerful tool for DNA studies of fish populations, making it possible to establish existing genealogical relationships between individuals and to perform reliable estimates of genetic parameters. In the present study, a total of 7959 fish (494 breeders and 7465 fry) were genotyped using two rounds of multiplex reactions with four microsatellite markers each. Offspring were assigned based on the Mendelian exclusion principles, using FAP program. Genealogical information was successfully obtained for more than 83 % of the progeny. Heritability estimates were close to 0.40 in all cases and for all considered traits. The lowest value was for the length at first age (350 ± 6 dph) and the highest for the length at the second age (500 ± 7 dph). The heritabilities for the first and the second weight were similar although somewhat higher for the second age, but not significant. The highest genetic correlations were found between weight and length at the same age and the lowest between weight and length at different ages. Based on the results of this study, it seems reasonable to expect that the implementation of a breeding program for improved growth in this population of gilthead sea bream will offer comparable performances to those achieved in other populations and species of great success in aquaculture around the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia Aplicada a Aquicultura, Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Mister Hull 2977, Bloco 872, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60356-000, Brazil

    Tiago Fernandes

  2. Departamento de Producción Animal, ETS Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Tiago Fernandes & Miguel A. Toro

  3. ABSA-Culmarex, 07007, Es CollD’enRabassa, Mallorca, Spain

    Marine Herlin & Guillermo Ballón

  4. Grupo Culmarex, 30880, Aguilas, Spain

    María Dolores López Belluga

  5. Departamento de Xenética, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain

    Paulino Martinez

  6. Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Jesús Fernández

Authors
  1. Tiago Fernandes
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  2. Marine Herlin
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  3. María Dolores López Belluga
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  4. Guillermo Ballón
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  5. Paulino Martinez
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  6. Miguel A. Toro
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  7. Jesús Fernández
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Correspondence to Tiago Fernandes.

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Fernandes, T., Herlin, M., Belluga, M.D.L. et al. Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits in a hatchery population of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.). Aquacult Int 25, 499–514 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-0046-5

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