Sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) reveal candidate markers linked to growth traits in the Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis

Abstract

Growth traits in 150 Chinese shrimps Fenneropenaeus chinensis were analyzed by the sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) technique in two populations of sixth-generation cultured shrimps with different ranges of body lengths (CP-a and CP-b) and in the wild-type population (WP). First, 240 random primers were used to screen polymorphic fragments by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Population analysis revealed nine RAPD markers correlated with growth traits, including seven positively and two negatively correlated ones. The sequences of the RAPD markers were then used to design longer primers for SCAR. Six primer pairs were obtained, and two of these produced polymorphic fragments among the three groups. One amplified 39, 26 and 27 polymorphic fragments, with band frequencies of 78, 52 and 54% in the CP-a, CP-b and WP groups, respectively. The distributions of polymorphic fragments in the three groups were significantly different (P < 0.05) according to a χ2 test, indicating that they may be candidate markers linked to growth traits. Another primer pair amplified three alleles, resulting in six combinations of genotypes among three groups. Since allele A1 was only found in the population of shorter shrimps, it may be a negative growth marker.