Abstract
Ivory shell, Babylonia areolata, is one of the commercially important mariculture species in southern China and South-East Asia. The selection programme for growth trait has been conducted since 2010 in two selected lines for three generations, namely the Hainan (H) and Thailand (T) selected lines. Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to monitor changes in their genetic diversity and structure during the selection process. A relatively high level of overall genetic diversity was observed, while the number of microsatellite allele declined slightly in the mass selection lines. Comparative diversity estimates indicated greater genetic diversity in H line than T line. Moreover, a relatively weak but significant genetic differentiation was found in both of the selected generations. In addition, the higher genetic variation observed in H line is most likely caused by artificial selection while selection bias on a growth advantage for the T population. These findings suggest no significant decline of genetic diversity was observed in the presently selected lines and that a potential exists for genetic improvement and development for B. areolata.
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