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Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is an economically important marine fish species of China. Due to overfishing and marine pollution, the wild stocks of this croaker have collapsed in the past decades. Meanwhile, the cultured croaker is facing the difficulties of reduced genetic diversity and low growth rate. To explore the molecular markers related to the growth traits of croaker and providing the related SNPs for the marker-assisted selection, we used double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to dissect the genetic bases of growth traits in a cultured population and identify the SNPs that associated with important growth traits by GWAS. A total of 220 individuals were genotyped by ddRAD sequencing. After quality control, 27,227 SNPs were identified in 220 samples and used for GWAS analysis. We identified 13 genome-wide significant associated SNPs of growth traits on 8 chromosomes, and the beta P of these SNPs ranged from 0.01 to 0.86. Through the definition of candidate regions and gene annotation, candidate genes related to growth were identified, including important regulators such as fgf18, fgf1, nr3c1, cyp8b1, fabp2, cyp2r1, ppara, and ccm2l. We also identified SNPs and candidate genes that significantly associated with body shape, including bmp7, col1a1, col11a2, and col18a1, which are also economically important traits for large yellow croaker aquaculture. The results provided insights into the genetic basis of growth and body shape in large yellow croaker population and would provide reliable genetic markers for molecular marker-assisted selection in the future. Meanwhile, the result established a basis for our subsequent fine mapping and related gene study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms of three loci (SEMA3E, GH and TLX) that related with growth traits in local quail. A total of 720 birds (males and females) from three lines (desert, brown and white) were used. The results revealed that the effects of the line were significant on bird body weight and carcass weight and dressing percentage at 180 days at age. The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) value overall birds for body weight was ranged from -9.2173 to 10.0117, these results showed there were significant differences among high and low BLUP value groups in three quail lines under study. The PCR-RFLP results overall three lines showed that there were three, three and two alleles for SEMA3E, TLX and GH locus, respectively. This alleles gives twelve differences genotypes, the desert male quail with ACABAA genotype and desert female quail with AAABAA genotype (high group) for three loci under study give significantly higher body and carcass weight compared with another groups.  In conclusion results showed that there are agreements between BLUP values with PCR-RFLP results to select best birds and the selection process with molecular technique can play a major positive and rapid role to improve and increase growth traits in these lines of local quail in Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Rabbit commercial maternal lines are usually selected for litter size (LS) and paternal lines for growth rate (GR). Line OR_LS was selected by ovulation rate (OR) and LS to improve LS more efficiently. In this study, growth traits of line OR_LS were evaluated by estimating the correlated response on weaning weight (WW), slaughter weight (SW) and GR during fattening period as well as their variability (DWW, DSW and DGR, respectively). Data were analyzed using Bayesian inference methods. Heritability estimates were low for growth traits (0.09, 0.13 and 0.14 for WW, SW and GR, respectively) and negligible for growth traits variability (0.01, 0.004 and 0.01 for DWW, DSW and DGR, respectively). Moderate common litter effect ratio (c 2; 0.35, 0.28 and 0.27) and low maternal effect ratio (m 2; 0.11, 0.05 and 0.01) were obtained for WW, SW and GR, respectively. Both c 2 and m 2 were lower at slaughter than at weaning. In addition, low common litter effect and negligible maternal effect were observed for growth traits variability. Genetic correlations between LS and both growth traits and their variability were close to zero. Positive genetic correlations were observed between OR and growth traits (0.19, 0.38 and 0.36 for WW, SW and GR, respectively) as well as between OR and growth traits variability (0.35, 0.62 and 0.20 for DWW, DSW and DGR, respectively). Positive correlated responses in both periods were obtained for growth traits, WW, SW and GR (0.037, 0.156 and 0.110 kg, respectively). The correlated response found in growth traits might be due to the positive genetic correlations between OR and these traits. However, selection for OR and LS using independent culling levels did not modify the growth traits variability. Therefore, no negative consequences on growth traits can be expected in current commercial maternal lines.

Takifugu bimaculatus is a euryhaline species, distributed ranging from the southern Yellow Sea to the South China Sea. Their tolerance to a wide range of salinity and temperature, coupled with a desirable firm texture, makes T. bimaculatus a strong candidate for Takifugu aquaculture in subtropics areas. Due to the increasing demand in markets and emerging of the Takifugu aquaculture industry, close attention has been paid to improvement on the T. bimaculatus production. In aquaculture, the great effort has been put into marker-assisted selective breeding, and efficient improvement was realized. However, few genetic resources on T. bimaculatus are provided so far. Aiming at understanding the genetic basis underlying important economic growth traits, facilitating genetic improvement and enriching the genetic resource in T. bimaculatus, we constructed the first genetic linkage map for T. bimaculatus via double digestion restriction-site association DNA sequencing and conducted quantitative traits locus (QTL) mapping for growth-related traits. The map comprised 1976 single nucleotide polymorphism markers distributed on 22 linkage groups (LG), with a total genetic distance of 2039.74 cM. Based on the linkage map, a chromosome-level assembly was constructed whereby we carried out comparative genomics analysis, verifying the high accuracy on contigs ordering of the linkage map. On the other hand, 18 QTLs associated with growth traits were detected on LG6, LG7, LG8, LG10, LG20, and LG21 with phenotypical variance ranging from 15.1 to 56.4%. Candidate genes participating in cartilage development, fat accumulation, and other growth-related regulation activities were identified from these QTLs, including col11a1, foxa2, and thrap3. The linkage map provided a solid foundation for chromosomes assembly and refinement. QTLs reported here unraveled the genomic architecture of some growth traits, which will advance the investigation of aquaculture breeding efforts in T. bimaculatus.

Background ‘Zhongshanshan’ is the general designation for the superior interspecific hybrid clones of Taxodium species, which is widely grown for economic and ecological purposes in southern China. Growth is the priority objective in ‘Zhongshanshan’ tree improvement. A high-density linkage map is vital to efficiently identify key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect growth. Results In total, 403.16 Gb of data, containing 2016,336 paired-end reads, was obtained after preprocessing. The average sequencing depth was 28.49 in T. distichum var. distichum , 25.18 in T. mucronatum , and 11.12 in each progeny. In total, 524,662 high-quality SLAFs were detected, of which 249,619 were polymorphic, and 6166 of the polymorphic markers met the requirements for use in constructing a genetic map. The final map harbored 6156 SLAF markers on 11 linkage groups, and was 1137.86 cM in length, with an average distance of 0.18 cM between adjacent markers. Separate QTL analyses of traits in different years by CIM detected 7 QTLs. While combining multiple-year data, 13 QTLs were detected by ICIM. 5 QTLs were repeatedly detected by the two methods, and among them, 3 significant QTLs ( q6–2 , q4–2 and q2–1 ) were detected in at least two traits. Bioinformatic analysis discoveried a gene annotated as a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase gene within q4–2 . Conclusions This map is the most saturated one constructed in a Taxodiaceae species to date, and would provide useful information for future comparative mapping, genome assembly, and marker-assisted selection.

Background The identification of markers and genes for growth traits may not only benefit for marker assist selection /genomic selection but also provide important information for understanding the genetic foundation of growth traits in broilers. Results In the current study, we estimated the genetic parameters of eight growth traits in broilers and carried out the genome-wide association studies for these growth traits. A total of 113 QTNs discovered by multiple methods together, and some genes, including ACTA1 , IGF2BP1 , TAPT1 , LDB2 , PRKCA , TGFBR2 , GLI3 , SLC16A7, INHBA, BAMBI, APCDD1, GPR39, and GATA4 , were identified as important candidate genes for rapid growth in broilers. Conclusions The results of this study will provide important information for understanding the genetic foundation of growth traits in broilers.

Since the growth traits of chickens are largely related to the production of meat and eggs, it is definitely important to understand genetic basis of growth traits. Although many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect growth traits have recently been reported in chickens, little is known about genetic architecture of growth traits across all growth stages. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal QTL study of growth traits measured from 0 to 64 weeks of age using 134 microsatellite DNA markers on 26 autosomes from 406 F2 females, which resulted from an intercross of Oh-Shamo and White Leghorn chicken breeds. We found 27 and 21 independent main-effect QTLs for body weight and shank length, respectively. Moreover, 15 and 4 pairs of epistatic QTLs were found for body weight and shank length, respectively. Taken together, the present study revealed 48 QTLs for growth traits on 21 different autosomes, and these loci clearly have age-specific effects on phenotypes throughout stages that are important for meat and egg productions. Approximately 60% of Oh-Shamo-derived alleles increased the phenotypic values, corresponding to the fact that Oh-Shamo traits were higher than those of White Leghorn. On the other hand, remaining Oh-Shamo alleles decreased the phenotypic values. Our results clearly indicated that the growth traits of chickens are regulated by several main and epistatic QTLs that are widely distributed in the chicken genome, and that the QTLs have age-dependent manners of controlling the traits. This study implies importance of not only cross-sectional but also longitudinal growth data for further understanding of the complex genetic architecture in animal.

Objective: As one of the most valuable genetic resources of Ongole beef cattle globally, the Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle population is being studied in this investigation of myostatin (MSTN) gene polymorphism and its association with growth traits. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 161 SO cattle were collected and analyzed. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated. The DNA was electrophoresed and extracted, and finally, the annealing temperature was optimized, followed by amplification and sequencing. Next, we used a Basic local alignment search tool to assess the sequencing data. Results: The analysis revealed 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MSTN gene in this region that showed genetic variation. Two SNPs, c.424 G > A, and c.467 G > C, were found to be significantly associated with SO cattle phenotypes of wither height, heart girth, and hip height (p < 0.05) but not with body weight or body length (p > 0.05). Conclusion: As a result of our findings, the MSTN gene polymorphism and its correlation with growth traits in SO cattle may be employed as a candidate marker in SO cattle and other beef cattle breeds.

1. A plant's growth rate is seen as a central element of its ecological strategy, and as determined by its traits. Yet the literature is inconsistent about the empirical correlation between functional traits and growth, casting doubt on the capacity of some prominent traits to influence growth rate. 2. We propose that traits should influence growth in a way that depends on the size of individual plants. We outline mechanisms and hypotheses based on new theoretical work and test these predictions in tree species using a meta-analysis of 103 studies (> 500 correlations) for five traits (specific leaf area, wood density, maximum height, seed mass and maximum assimilation rate). We also recorded data for 14 other traits commonly used in the trait literature. To capture the effects of plant size, we tested for a shift in the direction of correlation between growth rates and each trait across three ontogenetic stages: seedling, sapling and adult. 3. Results were consistent with predictions, although there were some limitations arising from unequal numbers of observation across ontogenetic stages. Specific leaf area was correlated with relative growth rate in seedlings but not in adult plants. Correlations of growth with wood density were not affected by ontogenetic stage. Seed mass, assimilation rate and maximum height were correlated with relative growth rate only in one ontogenetic stage category: seedlings, seedlings and adults, respectively. 4. Although we were able to confirm several of our theoretical predictions, major knowledge gaps still exist in the trait literature. For example, for one-third of the traits considered, the majority (> 75%) of reported correlations with growth came from the same ontogenetic stage. 5. Synthesis. We show for some traits, how trait–growth correlations change in a predictable way with plant size. Our understanding of plant strategies should shift away from describing species as having a fixed growth strategy throughout their life (on a continuous axis from slow to fast growth), in favour of a size-dependent growth trajectories.

To gain a better understanding of genetic variation of growth traits in Larix olgensis , we investigated the progeny of 60 half-sib families of L. olgensis grown in a seed orchard in northeastern China. Tree height (H), basal diameter, and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured at four different ages (i.e., at 4, 6, 8 and 10 years of growth). Significant differences among all the variation sources were observed during the different growth years. During the four measured years, phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCVs) of all traits ranged from 17.83 to 33.01 %, with heritabilities varying from 0.531 to 0.798. A correlation analysis uncovered extremely significant positive correlations among all traits within or among years. These high heritabilities and large PCVs were beneficial for the early selection of superior families. Using a comprehensive evaluation method, different families were selected as superior on the basis of different selection rates during each measured year, with families L78, L64, L63, L48, L13 and L14 selected across all measured years. At the 10th growth year, the optimal time to identify superior L. olgensis families, the selected families (L78, L64, L63, L48, L13 and L14) displayed higher H and DBH values, which corresponded to genetic gains of 8.31 and 16.82 %, respectively. In addition to the identification of superior female parents for improved seed orchard establishment, the findings generated by our study can serve as a theoretical foundation for early selection of L. olgensis families.