Analysis of genetic diversity in four populations of abalone using microsatellite markers

Objective The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze the genetic diversity, population genetic structure and differentiation characteristics of cultured abalone populations, thereby providing a scientific basis for genetic selection and germplasm resource conservation in abalone.

Methods Using SSR technology, we analyzed genetic diversity in four cultured populations in Fujian Province including Haliotis discus hannai (ZPB), Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × Haliotis fulgens ♂ (LPB), ZPB ♀ × LPB ♂ (LZB) and Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × Haliotis.gigantea ♂ (XPB).

Results The results are shown the average number alleles (N_a) of 16 across seven loci, with the average effective number of alleles (N_e) ranging from 2.856 to 11.517. Observed heterozygosity (H_o) ranged from 0.41 to 0.93, while expected heterozygosity (H_e) was between 0.653 and 0.918, with polymorphic information content (PIC) spanning 0.611 to 0.907. The genetic distance between LZB and XPB was the smallest (0.106), and the identity (I) was the highest. The genetic distance between LPB and XPB was the largest (0.440), and the identity was the lowest. The degree of genetic differentiation coefficien (F_st) among populations ranged from 0.000 to 0.069, and the gene flow (N_m) ranged from 3.378 to 999.750. Analysis of Variance by Means (AMOVA) revealed that 4% of genetic variation originated from among populations, 10% from among indiviual, and 86% from within indiviual. Four cultured abalone groups could be divided into three groups.

Conclusion The genetic diversity of LPB and ZPB populations was low, and the genetic diversity of LZB and XPB populations was high. These resluts provide evidence for the change trend of genetic diversity of abalone culture population, and provides reference for the scientific management of abalone resources and the healthy development of aquaculture industry.