Environment-Dependent Heterosis and Transgressive Gene Expression in Reciprocal Hybrids between the Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and the Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus.

ABSTRACT: The hybrid between female channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and male blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is superior in feed conversion, disease resistance, carcass yield, and harvestability compared to both parental species. However, heterosis and heterobeltiosis only occur in pond culture, and channel catfish grow much faster than the other genetic types in small culture units. This environment-dependent heterosis is intriguing, but the underlying genetic mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, phenotypic characterization and transcriptomic analyses were performed in the channel catfish, blue catfish, and their reciprocal F₁s reared in tanks. The results showed that the channel catfish is superior in growth-related morphometrics, presumably due to si

SUBMITTER: Wang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8772901 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature