|
|
|
Abstracts
Workgroup: Genetics and Oyster Populations
Evaluation of American oyster stocks for resource rehabilitation: disease resistance and genetics
Principal Investigator(s):
Patrick M. Gaffney, University of Delaware, pgaffney@udel.edu
Co-Investigator(s):
K. Paynter, D. Meritt, University of Maryland
Funding Period: 1995/1996
Oysters from Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Oregon and Delaware were used to make nine hatchery lines, which were deployed at three Chesapeake Bay sites. At two low-salinity sites, negligible disease-related mortality was observed. In Mobjack Bay, significant differences among lines were observed in disease prevalence and mortality.
We surveyed genetic variation in source populations from Canada to Mexico by RFLP and direct sequence analysis of PCR-amplified mitochondrial genes (16S and COI), and developed protocols for analyzing nuclear DNA polymorphisms. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed previous work showing that Gulf Coast and Atlantic oysters are genetically distinct; in addition, we found North and South Atlantic oysters are genetically different, although there appears to be a region of intergradation in the mid-Atlantic.
IMPACTS and/or BENEFITS: This common-garden grow-out experiment demonstrated significant genetic variability for disease resistance and mortality in oysters of different geographic origins. This information can be used for hatchery broodstock selection. In addition, we demonstrated a useful approach for incorporating diverse germplasm into breeding programs, i.e., by crossing males from diverse sources with a common egg pool. This method will be necessary in many cases where viable eggs and sperm cannot be obtained simultaneously from particular populations. Genetic markers developed can be used for broodstock identification, pedigree monitoring, and evaluation of oyster stock enhancement programs.
PROJECT PUBLICATIONS:
(Paynter et al. 1995; Paynter et al. 1997)
Paynter, K.T., P.M. Gaffney, and D. Meritt. 1995. Evaluating eastern oyster stocks for resource rehabilitation. Journal of Shellfish Research 15:517.
Paynter, K.T., P.M. Gaffney, and D. Meritt. 1995. Evaluation of American oyster stocks: Disease resistance and genetics. Journal of Shellfish Research 16:329.
![[Maryland Sea Grant]](../mdsg_logo.gif){kind=logo}
![[NOAA]](../noaa_logo.gif){kind=logo}
![[Virginia Sea Grant]](../vasg_logo.gif){kind=logo}