Possessing powerful adaptive capacity and a pleasant taste, spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) has a broad natural distribution and is one of the most popular mariculture fish in China. However, the genetic improvement program for this fish is still in its infancy. Growth is the most economically important trait and is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTL); thus, the identification of QTLs and genetic markers for growth-related traits is an essential step for the establishment of marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding programs. In this study, we report the first high-density linkage map of spotted sea bass constructed by sequencing 333 F1 generation individuals in a full-sib family using 2b-RAD technology. A total of 6883 SNP markers were anchored onto 24 linkage groups, spanning 2189.96 cM with an average marker interval of 0.33 cM. Twenty-four growth-related QTLs, including 13 QTLs for body weight and 11 QTLs for body length, were successfully detected, with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) ranging from 5.1 to 8.6%. Thirty potential candidate growth-related genes surrounding the associated SNPs were involved in cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cytoskeleton reorganization, calcium channels, and neuromodulation. Notably, the fgfr4 gene was detected in the most significant QTL; this gene plays a pivotal role in myogenesis and bone growth. The results of this study may facilitate marker-assisted selection for breeding populations and establish the foundation for further genomic and genetic studies investigating spotted sea bass.

中文翻译：

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斑点鲈（Lateolabrax maculatus）生长相关性状的第一个高密度连锁图和 QTL 精细图谱。

斑点鲈鱼（Lateolabrax maculatus）具有强大的适应能力和令人愉悦的口感)自然分布广泛，是我国最受欢迎的海水养殖鱼类之一。然而，这种鱼的遗传改良计划仍处于起步阶段。生长是最重要的经济性状，受数量性状基因座（QTL）控制；因此，鉴定生长相关性状的 QTL 和遗传标记是建立标记辅助选择 (MAS) 育种计划的必要步骤。在这项研究中，我们报告了通过使用 2b-RAD 技术对全同胞家族中的 333 个 F1 代个体进行测序而构建的第一个斑点鲈鱼的高密度连锁图。共有 6883 个 SNP 标记被锚定在 24 个连锁群上，跨越 2189.96 cM，平均标记间隔为 0.33 cM。24个生长相关QTL，包括13个体重QTL和11个体长QTL，被成功检测到，表型变异解释 (PVE) 范围从 5.1% 到 8.6%。围绕相关 SNP 的 30 个潜在候选生长相关基因参与细胞粘附、细胞增殖、细胞骨架重组、钙通道和神经调节。值得注意的是，该在最显着的QTL中检测到fgfr4基因；该基因在肌生成和骨骼生长中起着关键作用。这项研究的结果可能有助于繁殖种群的标记辅助选择，并为进一步调查斑点鲈鱼的基因组和遗传研究奠定基础。