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Heritability of economically important traits in the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L
Author(s) -
Kristjánsson Theódór,
Arnason Thorvaldur
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12496
Subject(s) - heritability , gadus , biology , body weight , zoology , genetic correlation , selective breeding , genetic variation , atlantic cod , fishery , genetics , gene , endocrinology , fish <actinopterygii>
Abstract During the development of breeding programme for A tlantic cod G adus morhua L., in Iceland, genetic parameters were estimated for 1402 individuals, which were assigned with DNA profiling to 140 dams and 70 sires. The cod was reared in cages on the eastern and western coasts of Iceland from 2004 to 2005. At the average body weight of 1.8 kg, the estimated heritability ( h 2 ± SE ) for body weight, gutted weight and the condition factor ( CF ) were 0.31 ± 0.06, 0.34 ± 0.04 and 0.24 ± 0.06 respectively. Genetic correlation ( r G ) in body weight between the two rearing locations was estimated as 0.95, which reflects a low G × E interaction. The estimated heritability for hepatosomatic index ( HSI ) and fillet yields was 0.061 ± 0.04 and 0.04 ± 0.04 respectively. The HSI and fillet yields were highly genetically correlated with body weight or 0.67 and 0.82 respectively. The genetic correlation between the CF and body weight was estimated as 0.31. There appears to be substantial amount of additive genetic variation for body weight suggesting that selection is likely to be successful. Low heritability for fillet yields and the HSI indicates less promise of genetic improvement. Assigning of parentage to individuals with DNA profiling was 80% successful.