Project Number: 5358-31000-002-01
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 01, 2004
End Date: Jan 31, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to elucidate the genetic architecture underlying economically important traits in cultured Pacific oysters (Crassistrea gigas) and to use this information to develop marker-assisted selection technology that enhances broodstock development with improved characteristics such as growth rate, reproduction, survival, disease resistance, and product quality. Information will be utilized from existing archived samples and genetic maps and new information will be contributed to mapping databases by mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for traits of economic importance. The development of these tools will allow the integration of marker-assisted selection with traditional breeding approaches to provide the shellfish industry with improved genetic stock. The program is dependent upon coordination with the Molluscan Broodstock Program (MBP) at the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC), an administrative unit of Oregon State University.

Approach:
The levels of genetic (co)variation available in existing and potential shellfish germ plasm resources for economically important phenotypic characters as well as the number of loci contributing to these traits and the nature of their effects (genetic architecture) will be examined through a combination of quantitative and molecular genetic approaches. These include reconstructing and verifying pedigrees of broodstock animals using molecular markers, traditional quantitative genetic variance partitioning among families of animals of known relatedness and quantitative trait locus mapping. The patterns of available genetic (co)variation and genetic architecture are critical information for the design and execution of effective selection protocols for genetic improvement. Identifying QTL contributing to economically important traits will allow for the development of marker-assisted selection strategies that will improve the efficiency of selective breeding by allowing direct selection of favorable genotypes and by reducing the interval between spawning and selection and the need to maintain undesirable genotypes through the entire life cycle. Documents NFCA with Oregon State University. Formerly 5358-31000-001-01N. 04/2005.