Genetic differences between wild and hatchery populations of red sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) inferred from microsatellite markers: implications for production and stocking programs design

Red sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus is the most important and valuable commercial sea cucumber species in Korea. Its farming and stock enhancement started in the early 2000s and is still rapid expansion in Korea. Therefore, the analyses of genetic status of wild and hatchery populations are necessary to maintain the genetic diversity of this valuable marine resource. In this study, possible genetic similarity and differences between the wild population and hatchery population in Jeju, Korea were accessed using multiplex assays with eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci. High levels of polymorphism were observed between the two populations. A total of 93 different alleles were found. Although a considerable loss of unique alleles and relatively high inbreeding coefficient value were observed in the hatchery samples, no statistically significant reductions were found in heterozygosity or allelic diversity in the hatchery population, compared with the wild population. However, significant genetic heterogeneity was found between two populations. These results suggest that genetic drift has probably promoted differentiation between populations, and stocking intensity in wild populations may correlate with loss of genetic integrity. Therefore, the sustainable exploitation plans of the fishery resource should be developed by applying basic genetic principles combined with molecular monitoring. This genetic baseline information of Korean red sea cucumber has important implications for designing of genetically sustainable restocking programs and more efficient conservation management guidelines for these valuable genetic materials.     

Development and characterization of 70 novel microsatellite markers for the sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus)

The sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) is an important item in Asian cuisine. It is currently produced through aquaculture, especially in China, after being overexploited in the wild in the 1990s. We isolated 70 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci using an enrichment-colony hybridization protocol. All loci were characterized in 48 individuals from a natural population in Rongcheng (Shandong, China) using genomic DNA isolated from muscle tissue. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 17 (mean 7.0), and the observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.0010 to 1.0000 and from 0.2125 to 0.9477, respectively. Thirty-one of the 70 loci exhibited departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellite markers should be useful resources for population genetic studies and for molecular marker-assisted breeding of A. japonicus.     

Population structure of the wild soybean (Glycine soja) in China: implications from microsatellite analyses

Background and Aims Wild soybean (Glycine soja), a native species of East Asia, is the closest wild relative of the cultivated soybean (G. max) and supplies valuable genetic resources for cultivar breeding. Analyses of the genetic variation and population structure of wild soybean are fundamental for effective conservation studies and utilization of this valuable genetic resource. Methods In this study, 40 wild soybean populations from China were genotyped with 20 microsatellites to investigate the natural population structure and genetic diversity. These results were integrated with previous microsatellite analyses for 231 representative individuals from East Asia to investigate the genetic relationships of wild soybeans from China. Key Results Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 43·92 % of the molecular variance occurred within populations, although relatively low genetic diversity was detected for natural wild soybean populations. Most of the populations exhibited significant effects of a genetic bottleneck. Principal co-ordinate analysis, construction of a Neighbor-Joining tree and Bayesian clustering indicated two main genotypic clusters of wild soybean from China. The wild soybean populations, which are distributed in north-east and south China, separated by the Huang-Huai Valley, displayed similar genotypes, whereas those populations from the Huang-Huai Valley were different. Conclusions The previously unknown population structure of the natural populations of wild soybean distributed throughout China was determined. Two evolutionarily significant units were defined and further analysed by combining genetic diversity and structure analyses from Chinese populations with representative samples from Eastern Asia. The study suggests that during the glacial period there may have been an expansion route between south-east and north-east China, via the temperate forests in the East China Sea Land Bridge, which resulted in similar genotypes of wild soybean populations from these regions. Genetic diversity and bottleneck analysis supports that both extensive collection of germplasm resources and habitat management strategies should be undertaken for effective conservation studies of these important wild soybean resources.     

Allele-specific PCR genotyping of the HSP70 gene polymorphism discriminating the green and red color variants sea cucumber （Apostichopus japonicus）

Color variation is a well-known feature of sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus),which are classified into three groups based on their colors of red,green and black.It is also one of the most important traits related to how they taste,and it thereby affects their market price.Attempts were made to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to analyze differences associated with SNP genotypes between green and red color variants using HSP70 as the target gene.The HSP70 gene,which is found universally in organisms from bacteria to humans,is one of the most evolutionarily conserved genes and the most widely studied biomarker of stress response.DNA fragments of 1074 bp covering a partial sequence of the sea cucumber HSP70 gene,were amplified from both red and green variants,and subsequently analyzed for the presence of SNPs.Twenty-seven polymorphic sites in total,including heterozygous sites,were observed.Of these,six sites were found to be significantly different SNP genotypes between green and red variants.Furthermore,PCR with an internal primer designed to include an allelespecific SNP at the 3' end (site 443) showed differentiation between the two variants,100％ and 4.2％ amplification in green and red variants,respectively.The validated SNPs may serve as informative genetic markers that can be used to distinguish variants at the early developmental stage,prior to color differentiation.     

Isolation and characterization of 19 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers in the devil stinger, Inimicus japonicus (Synanceiidae)

Inimicus japonicus, the devil stinger, has an extensive distribution along the coast of China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Nineteen highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized in I. japonicus. Twenty-eight individuals from a wild population were tested for polymorphism using this set of polymorphic microsatellite markers. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 14. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.500-0.892 and 0.521-0.910, respectively. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected at two loci. To the best of our knowledge, these were the first microsatellite loci characterized from the Synanceiidae; they can be used for estimating genetic diversity, population structure studies, parentage analysis, genetic linkage map construction, germplasm classification and identification, gene identification, quantitative trait loci mapping, and marker-assisted selection in breeding of I. japonicus and other species of this family.     

Development of microsatellite markers to genetically differentiate populations of Octopus minor from Korea and China

Of the more than 300 octopus species, Octopus minor is one of the most popular and economically important species in Eastern Asia, including Korea, along with O. vulgaris, O. ocellatus, and O. aegina. We developed 19 microsatellite markers from Octopus minor and eight polymorphic markers were developed to analyze the genetic diversity and relationships among four octopus populations from Korea and three from China. The number of alleles per locus varied from 10 to 49, and allelic richness per locus ranged from 2 to 16.4 across all populations. The average allele number among the populations was 11.1, with a minimum of 8.3 and a maximum of 13.6. The mean allelic richness was 8.7 in all populations. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) test revealed significant deviation in 19 of the 56 single-locus sites, and null alleles were presumed in five of eight loci. The pairwise F ( ST ) values between populations from Korea and China differed significantly in all pairwise comparisons. The genetic distances between the China and Korea samples ranged from 0.161 to 0.454. The genetic distances among the populations from Korea ranged from 0.033 to 0.090, with an average of 0.062; those among populations from China ranged from 0.191 to 0.316, with an average of 0.254. The populations from Korea and China formed clearly separated into clusters via an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean dendrogram. Furthermore, a population from muddy flats on the western coast of the Korean Peninsula and one from a rocky area on Jeju Island formed clearly separated subclusters. An assignment test based on the allele distribution discriminated between the Korean and Chinese origins with 96.9 % accuracy.     

三个野生群体日本囊对虾遗传多样性的SSR分析

为了解野生种群日本囊对虾遗传分化和改良遗传育种,用SSR技术对福建厦门(XM)、广东湛江(ZJ)、广西北海(BH)3个地区野生日本囊对虾进行遗传多样性的研究。采用了10对微卫星引物对3个野生种群进行分析,10个微卫星位点在3个种群中均表现为高度的多态性,每个位点平均检测到3.87个等位基因;平均多态信息含量为0.5893;3个群体的观测杂合度分别为0.6243、0.5704、0.4661,全部群体观测杂合度平均为0.5536;期望杂合度分别为0.7193、0.6189、0.6226,全部群体平均期望杂合度为0.6536。这说明3个野生种群在10个微卫星位点上均具有丰富的遗传多样性。基于Nei's遗传距离的聚类分析显示厦门群体和湛江群体的遗传距离较近。     

圈养小熊猫遗传多样性与种群遗传结构分析

小熊猫是亚洲特有的珍稀濒危动物,目前受到栖息地减少、片断化和人类活动干扰等威胁。中国圈养小熊猫已经有60 多年历史,约55 个机构曾经饲养过小熊猫,现今圈养数量有400 多只,评估小熊猫圈养种群的遗传多样性和遗传结构对科学维持圈养种群和保存遗传种质资源意义重大。本研究利用19 个微卫星座位,对中国境内11 个小熊猫圈养种群的116 只个体进行了遗传多样性评估及遗传结构分析。结果显示11 个种群都具有较高的遗传多样性,平均基因丰富度3.505 ± 1.033 (北京)至4.026 ± 1.219 (冕宁),期望杂合度0.631 ± 0.225(黄山)至0.782 ±0.171 (温岭)。其中福州和无锡种群极显著偏离Hardy-Weinberg 平衡。整个圈养群体内各个种群遗传分化系数为0.055,呈显著分化,表明11 个种群遗传分化水平较高。Bayesian 遗传聚类分析将11 个种群聚为三个遗传簇,与野生种群的遗传聚类结果一致。结论:小熊猫圈养种群与野生种群相比,同样具有较高的遗传多样性。因此,圈养小熊猫遗传管理的重点不再是引进野生个体充实圈养种群,应制订科学的繁殖计划,避免近交,从而维持圈养种群的遗传多样性。     

Isolation and characterization of 15 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci from Argyrosomus japonicus (mulloway), a new aquaculture species in Australia

Fifteen microsatellite loci were isolated for population genetic studies of mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus), a commercial/recreational fish species in Southern Australia. A genomic library was screened randomly for di- tri- and tetranucleotide repeats. Fifteen microsatellite marker loci were developed that were highly polymorphic (allele number ranged from four to 18). Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.17 to 1 and from 0.27 to 0.91, respectively. These markers have proven useful for estimating genetic variation and for evaluating population structure across the species' natural distribution. They also provide powerful tools for optimizing hatchery practices to conserve genetic diversity.     

海参微卫星DNA的多态性

微卫星DNA(microsatellite DNA)广泛存在于真核生物的基因组中。由于其具有突变频率快、多态性丰富、呈共显性遗传、通用性等特点,已成为近年来被广泛应用的分子遗传标记。本研究对10个海参微卫星DNA进行了克隆与测序。结果表明:90%的微卫星DNA序列存在长度多态性,这为进一步研究海参的分子标记辅助育种奠定了基础。     

Study of genetic diversity and relationships among accessions of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] in Korea, China, and Pakistan using SSR markers

In this study, 28 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer sets were used to analyze the genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic relationships among 37 accessions of foxtail millet from Korea, China and Pakistan. A total of 298 alleles were detected with an average allele number of 10.6 per locus among 37 foxtail millet accessions. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 (b226) to 20 (b236). Of the 298 alleles, 138 alleles (46.3%) were rare (frequency < 0.05), 152 alleles (51.0%) were detected at an intermediate frequency (range, 0.05?C0.50), and eight alleles (2.7%) were abundant (frequency > 0.50), respectively. The average gene diversity values were 0.652, 0.692, and 0.491 and polymorphic information content values were 0.621, 0.653, and 0.438, for accessions from Korea, China, and Pakistan, respectively. The accessions from China showed higher SSR diversity than those from Korea and Pakistan. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the un-weighted pair group methods with arithmetic mean algorithm revealed three major groups of accessions that were not congruent with geographical distribution patterns with a few exceptions. The lack of correlation between the accession clusters and their geographic location indicates that the diffusion of foxtail millet from China to Korea might have occurred through multiple routes. Our results provide support for the origin and diffusion route of foxtail millet in East Asia. This SSR-based assessment of genetic diversity, genetic relationships, and population structure among genetic resources of foxtail millet landraces will be valuable to foxtail millet breeding and genetic conservation programs in Korea.     

Twelve polymorphic microsatellites in Oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense

Oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, is a commercially important freshwater prawn species in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Due to overfishing for food, the wild stocks M. nipponense are endangered. Twenty microsatellite loci were isolated from the M. nipponense. Twelve of these loci were polymorphic (seven to 16 alleles per locus), with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.68 to 0.86 (n = 48). These polymorphic loci provide a valuable tool for assessing genetic diversity of wild and cultured populations.     

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure for the Conservation of Giant Spiny Frog(Quasipaa spinosa) Using Microsatellite Loci and Mitochondrial DNA

The giant spiny frog(Quasipaa spinosa) is an endangered species with a relatively small distribution limited to southern China and Northern Vietnam. This species is becoming increasingly threatened because of over-exploitation and habitat degradation. This study provides data on the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the giant spiny frog to facilitate the further development of effective conservation recommendations for this economically important but threatened species. We examined 10 species-specific microsatellite loci and Cyt b genes(562 bp) collected from 13 wild populations across the entire range of this species. Results of 10 microsatellite loci analysis showed a generally high level of genetic diversity. Moreover, the genetic differentiation among all 12 populations was moderate to large(overall F_(ST) = 0.1057). A total of 51 haplotypes were identified for Cyt b, which suggests high haplotype nucleotide diversities. Phylogeographic and population structure analyses using both DNA markers suggested that the wild giant spiny frog can be divided into four distinct major clades, i.e., Northern Vietnam, Western China, Central China, and Eastern China. The clades with significant genetic divergence are reproductively isolated, as evidenced by a high number of private alleles and strong incidence of failed amplification in microsatellite loci. Our research, coupled with other studies, suggests that Q. spinosa might be a species complex within which no detectable morphological variation has been revealed. The four phylogenetic clades and some subclades with distinct geographical distribution should be regarded as independent management units for conservation purposes.     

Comparative genetic diversity of wild and hatchery-produced Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) populations in Korea using multiplex PCR assays with nine polymorphic microsatellite markers

The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is the most important and valuable commercial fishery species in Korea. Its farming started 20 years ago and is still rapid expansion in Korea. In this study, to maintain the genetic diversity of this valuable marine resource, possible genetic similarity and differences between the wild population and hatchery population in Tongyeong, Korea were accessed using multiplex assays with nine highly polymorphic microsatellite loci. A total of 250 different alleles were found over all loci. Despite a long history of hatchery practices, very high levels of polymorphism (mean alleles = 22.89 and mean heterozygosity = 0.92) were detected between the two populations. No statistically significant reductions were found in heterozygosity or allelic diversity in the hatchery population compared with the wild population. However, significant genetic heterogeneity was found between two populations. These results provide no evidence to show that hatchery practice of Pacific oyster in Korea has significantly affected the genetic variability of the hatchery stock. Although further studies are needed for comprehensive determinations of the hatchery and wild populations with increased number of Pacific oyster sample collections, information on the genetic variation and differentiation obtained in this study can be applied for genetic monitoring of aquaculture stocks, genetic improvement by selective breeding and designing of more efficient conservation management guidelines for these valuable genetic materials.     

Impact of gene flow from cultivated beet on genetic diversity of wild sea beet populations

Gene flow and introgression from cultivated plants may have important consequences for the conservation of wild plant populations. Cultivated beets (sugar beet, red beet and Swiss chard: Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) are of particular concern because they are cross-compatible with the wild taxon, sea beet (B.vs. ssp. maritima). Cultivated beet seed production areas are sometimes adjacent to sea beet populations; the numbers of flowering individuals in the former typically outnumber those in the populations of the latter. In such situations, gene flow from cultivated beets has the potential to alter the genetic composition of the nearby wild populations. In this study we measured isozyme allele frequencies of 11 polymorphic loci in 26 accessions of cultivated beet, in 20 sea beet accessions growing near a cultivated beet seed production region in northeastern Italy, and 19 wild beet accessions growing far from seed production areas. We found one allele that is specific to sugar beet, relative to other cultivated types, and a second that has a much higher frequency in Swiss chard and red beet than in sugar beet. Both alleles are typically rare in sea beet populations that are distant from seed production areas, but both are common in those that are near the Italian cultivated beet seed production region, supporting the contention that gene flow from the crop to the wild species can be substantial when both grow in proximity. Interestingly, the introgressed populations have higher genetic diversity than those that are isolated from the crop. The crop-to-wild gene flow rates are unknown, as are the fitness consequences of such alleles in the wild. Thus, we are unable to assess the long-term impact of such introgression. However, it is clear that gene flow from a crop to a wild taxon does not necessarily result in a decrease in the genetic diversity of the native plant.     

利用SLAF-seq技术开发带鱼(Trichiurus japonicus)微卫星标记以及跨物种扩增检测

带鱼(Trichiurus japonicus)是广泛分布于东亚大陆架海域的暖温性近底层鱼类,长期位居我国单鱼种渔获量第一位。自上世纪70年代以来,持续过度捕捞和海洋环境变化导致中国近海带鱼资源基础和遗传多样性受到严重影响,但有关带鱼种群的微卫星DNA标记研究却较为缺乏,不利于该物种遗传资源评估和保护。为此,本研究采用基于高通量测序平台的SLAF-seq技术,从带鱼的195 308个SLAF标签中识别出25 704个二至六碱基重复微卫星位点。经过引物扩增验证,最终筛选出36个具有多态性的微卫星标记。各位点等位基因数4～35,均值14.47。观测杂合度0.214～1.000,期望杂合度0.456～0.979,均值分别为0.620和0.803。所有位点的多态信息含量值均大于0.25。经Bonferroni校正,21个位点符合哈迪-温伯格平衡,且各位点间不存在连锁不平衡。这21个多态性微卫星标记可为带鱼的种群遗传资源研究提供新的有效分子标记和技术支撑。Bottleneck分析结果表明,宁波近海带鱼群体未检测到近期的遗传瓶颈效应,这可能与目前东海区带鱼野生群体数量还比较庞大、遗传变异仍然较为丰富有关。跨物种扩增结果显示,分别有12、16、4和3个带鱼微卫星标记在带鱼属(Trichiurus)、沙带鱼(Lepturacanthus savala)、窄颅带鱼(Tentoriceps cristatus)及小带鱼(Eupleurogrammus muticus)中具有较好的通用性,这些微卫星标记为今后带鱼科相应属、种的系统进化关系研究提供新的分析手段和契机。     

青鱼野生与养殖群体遗传变异的微卫星分析

研究利用自主开发的12个微卫星标记, 对来自于长江水系4个野生群体(湖北石首、湖南湘江、江苏邗江、浙江嘉兴)和1个养殖群体(江苏吴江)青鱼(Mylopharyngodon piceus)进行遗传多样性和遗传结构分析。遗传多样性分析结果显示这12个位点多态信息含量(PIC)介于0.660—0.923, 表明这12个位点均具有高度多态性(PIC>0.5)。5个群体的平均等位基因数(N_a)介于7.917—11.667, 平均有效等位基因数(N_e)介于4.837—6.035; 平均观测杂合度介于0.713—0.861; 平均期望杂合度介于0.749—0.819; 平均多态信息含量介于0.711—0.788, 表明这5个群体均具有较高的遗传多样性。遗传距离分析结果表明4个野生群体之间遗传距离较近, 养殖群体与这4个野生群体遗传距离均较远。UPGMA系统进化树显示, 湘江群体和石首群体首先聚为一支, 然后与邗江群体和嘉兴群体聚为一支, 最后与吴江养殖群体聚为一支。这12个微卫星位点具有较为丰富的遗传多样性特征, 可以用于青鱼不同群体的种质资源的评估和遗传多样性的分析。     

Clonal structure through space and time: High stability in the holothurian Stichopus chloronotus (Echinodermata)

Sea cucumbers are increasingly exploited for human consumption and for their curative properties, and many wild populations are now depleted or in danger of extinction. While aquaculture is seen as an alternative to fisheries and as a mean to restore wild populations, more knowledge is needed on their reproductive strategies to render this practice efficient, notably for fissiparous holothurians, which are some of the mobile animals able of asexual reproduction by transverse fission. Little information is available on their population genetic diversity and structure. Here, the clonal structure of populations of the fissiparous sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus has been investigated using nine microsatellite loci and a random sampling, at different spatial (intra‐reef and inter‐reef) and temporal (inter‐season and inter‐year) scales. Our findings highlight the importance of asexual reproduction in maintaining these populations, and the prevalence of the “initial seedling recruitment” strategy (ISR), leading to a high stability of clonal composition over seasons and years. It also seemed that clonal propagation was limited to the reef scale (<10 km) while reefs were connected by sexual dispersal. This is the first time that clonal structure in sea cucumbers has been studied at such a fine scale, with a specific sampling strategy. It provides key findings on the genetic diversity and structure of fissiparous sea cucumbers, which will be useful for the management of wild populations and aquaculture.     

刺参池塘底质微生物群落功能多样性的季节变化

利用BIOLOG技术和冗余分析(Redundancy analysis,RDA)方法对刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)养殖池塘底质环境(底泥、附着基)微生物群落功能多样性的季节变化及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明:(1)刺参池塘底泥和附着基微生物对碳源总量和单类碳源的利用均具有显著的季节变化,总体表现为春、夏、秋季节高于冬季,其中,底泥微生物利用比例较高的碳源类型为聚合物、糖类、羧酸和氨基酸,附着基微生物利用比例较高的碳源类型为聚合物、糖类、氨基酸和胺。(2)主成分分析表明,刺参池塘底泥和附着基微生物碳代谢方式均具有显著的季节变化。底泥中,与主成分显著相关的碳源有18种,其中与主成分1显著相关的主要是糖类、羧酸和氨基酸,与主成分2显著相关的主要是聚合物和糖类;附着基中,与主成分显著相关的碳源有22种,其中与主成分1显著相关的主要是聚合物、糖类、羧酸和氨基酸,与主成分2显著相关的是羧酸。(3)刺参池塘底泥和附着基微生物多样性指数Shannon、McIntosh、Simpson和S-E均匀度均存在显著的季节变化,但不同指数之间的变化有较大差异。(4)RDA分析表明,TP、NO3-N和PO4-P是影响底泥微生物功能多样性季节变化的主要因素,SOM、NO3-N和TN是影响附着基微生物功能多样性季节变化的主要因素。结论认为,刺参池塘底泥和附着基微生物功能多样性具有显著的不同的季节变化,这些变化与环境因子具有很好的相关性。     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of the Korean starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) between and within cultured stocks and wild populations inferred from microsatellite DNA analysis

The Korean starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus, is economically valuable coastal resident fish species. However, the annual catch of this fish has fluctuated and suffered major declines in Korea. We examined the genetic diversity and population structure for four wild populations and three hatchery stocks of Korean starry flounder to protect its genetic integrity using nine microsatellites. A group of 339 genotypes belonging to seven populations were screened. High degrees of polymorphism at the microsatellite loci were observed within both the wild and hatchery populations. Compared to the wild populations, genetic changes, including reduced genetic diversity and highly significant differentiation, have occurred in cultured stocks. Significant population differentiation was also observed in wild starry flounder populations. Similar degrees of inbreeding and significant Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium deviations were detected in both the wild and the hatchery populations. The genetic connectivity pattern identified four distinct metapopulations of starry flounder in Korea by clustering in the phylogenetic tree, Bayesian analyses, molecular variance analysis, PCA and multidimensional scaling analysis. A pattern of isolation-by-distance was not significant. This genetic differentiation may be the result of the co-effects of various factors, such as historic dispersal, local environment or anthropogenic activities. These results provide useful information for the genetic monitoring of P. stellatus hatchery stocks, for the genetic improvement of this species by selective breeding and for designing suitable management guidelines for the conservation of this species.