Genomic selection for heterobothriosis resistance concurrent with body size in the tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes.

ABSTRACT: Parasite resistance traits in aquaculture species often have moderate heritability, indicating the potential for genetic improvements by selective breeding. However, parasite resistance is often synonymous with an undesirable negative correlation with body size. In this study, we first tested the feasibility of genomic selection (GS) on resistance to heterobothriosis, caused by the monogenean parasite Heterobothrium okamotoi, which leads to huge economic losses in aquaculture of the tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes. Then, using a simulation study, we tested the possibility of simultaneous improvement of parasite resistance, assessed by parasite counts on host fish (HC), and standard length (SL). Each trait showed moderate heritability (square-root transformed HC: h² = 0.308 ± 

SUBMITTER: Lin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7672106 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature