Identification of a microsatellite marker that is completely linked to shell colour in small abalone,Haliotis diversicolor

Abstract

A novel orange shell colour has been discovered in small abalone, Haliotis diversicolor (Reeve, 1846). To facilitate and accelerate a selective breeding programme for orange shell colour, a microsatellite marker that was completely linked to the shell colour gene was identified using a selective DNA pool approach and was verified in 448 individuals. Two DNA pools were constructed by pooling equal amounts of genomic DNA from 74 individuals with dark-brown shells and 87 individuals with orange shells. Approximately 12 of 308 microsatellite markers that were linked to the shell colour gene were isolated using the selective DNA pooling method. After verification in 32 individuals with dark shells and 32 individuals with orange shells, only the Hdi3-119 locus remained tightly linked to the shell colour gene. Finally, four families were used to verify the accuracy of the Hdi3-119 locus. All of the individuals with orange shells in the four families harboured a unique 381-bp allele in marker Hdi3-119. This marker could be used for selective breeding of orange small abalone.