Whole Genome Sequence of the Newly Prescribed Subspecies Oreochromis spilurus saudii: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) have significant potential for aquaculture production around the world. There is an increasing demand among tilapia producers for strains with higher yields and for fish that can survive in highly saline water. Novel strains and consistent seedstock are critically important objectives for sustainable aquaculture, but for these required targets there is still not enough progress. Therefore, this study describes the genome sequence of Oreochromis spilurus to support the seawater culture of tilapia. The draft genome is 0.768 Gb (gigabases), with a scaffold N50 (the genome (50%) is in fragments of this length) of 0.22 Mb (megabases). The GC content is 40.4%, the heterozygosity rate is 0.35%, and the repeat content is 47.97%. The predicted protein-coding peptide encoded 51,642 and predicted 10,641 protein-coding genes in the O. spilurus genome. The predicted antimicrobial peptides were 262, bringing new hope for further research. This whole genome sequence provides new insights for biomedical and molecular research and will also improve the breeding of tilapia for high yields, resistance to disease, and adaptation to salt water.