QTL Mapping of Growth Traits in Yellow River Carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) at 5–17 Months after Hatching

Abstract

To screen the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes related to the growth of Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) after removing the maternal effect, we established a family of these carps. Four growth-related traits (body length, height, thickness, and weight) of the family at 5 and 17 months after hatching (MAH) were measured. Analysis of QTL mapping for the four growth-related traits was conducted using the genetic linkage map constructed in our laboratory. We identified 47 QTL that were related to the four growth traits and three consensus QTL (cQTL). A total of 10, 14, 10, and 13 QTL were associated with body length, height, thickness, and weight, respectively; cQTL-1, cQTL-2, and cQTL-3 contained 11, 2, and 2 QTL, respectively. We detected 17 growth-related candidate genes within 50 Kb upstream and downstream of the five main-effect QTL (phenotypic variation explained > 10%, logarithm of odds > 5.5). Two genes (cbfa2t2 and neca1) that may be affected by maternal effects were identified by comparing the main-effect QTL at 17 and 5–17 MAH. This study was the first attempt to eliminate growth-related QTL and genes affected by maternal effects in Yellow River carp. These results can be used in molecular marker-assisted breeding and provide valuable genomic resources for the genetic mechanisms underlying growth in Yellow River carp.