Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X Conference

January 12-16, 2002
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Workshop: Aquaculture
            

MOLECULAR TOOLS FOR A CHANNEL CATFISH APPLIED BREEDING PROGRAM

¹ USDA-ARS, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, P.O. Box 38, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA

A comprehensive multi-trait selection program is underway at USDA-ARS to improve catfish performance for commercial production. In spring 2001, 280,000 lbs of 2- and 3-year old broodstock of the NWAC103 catfish strain were released to the U.S. catfish industry. This strain demonstrated 10% increased feed consumption and growth compared with tested commercial stocks. A nine-trait selection program is continuing in this catfish line. Using a 2-year generation interval, selected broodstock are stocked into ponds and allowed to randomly spawn. Microsatellite genotypes of parents and offspring are determined each generation, and realized heritabilities and genetic parameters will be determined for all traits based on parentage. Genotype information from 10 microsatellite markers is also available to assist the U.S. catfish industry's strain certification program in the identification of NWAC103 strain fish. A catfish BAC library has been produced from a gynogenetic catfish, and will be useful for integrating the physical and linkage maps. This library contains an 8-fold genome coverage of clones from 130-200 kb (avg. 165 kb). The catfish mitochondrial genome was completely sequenced, and 19 haplotypes in the D-loop region were found in research and commercial populations. Mitochondrial protein sequence identities were higher with salmon, trout and carp than with zebrafish.