Identification of SNPs with different allele frequencies in China and Japan population of Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)

Abstract

Hybrids produced by crossing between China and Japan Pacific abalone populations exhibited heterosis and have been applied extensively in aquaculture production in China. Identification of population informative loci for China and Japan populations is important for the genetic resource conservation and our understanding of heterosis in Pacific abalone. With the advantage of high genomic abundance and low redundance, SNPs have gained much interest in genetic studies. In this study, through screening the genome sequencing data of Pacific abalone, 32 potential population informative SNPs for China and Japan populations were found. Then 17 of them were successfully developed as SNP markers. After further evaluation, five SNPs showed significant differences in allele frequencies between the two populations. These SNPs could be used as population informative markers in the assessment of genetic structure changes in both wild and cultured Pacific abalone, and also in the studies on heterosis of this species.