Abstract
The majority of species and strains reared globally for aquaculture are relatively unimproved for commercially important traits. The potential for genetic improvement in fish species compared with domestic livestock, is very high. Therefore, we are integrating molecular genetic technologies into aquaculture to help solve some of the major genetic problems. Our long-term goal is to use genetic markers to increase the efficiency of artificial selection in fish stock improvement. To do this, marker-assisted selection (MAS) has been proposed. MAS can be carried out with an understanding of the linkage relationships between quantitative trait loci (QTL) and markers. To identify QTL controlling traits of economic importance, a genetic linkage map is required, with variable markers distributed throughout the genome. We have constructed a genetic linkage map for rainbow trout using 192 microsatellite, 3 RAPD, 5 ESMP, and 7 allozyme markers in three backcross families. As a first step towards MAS, some QTLs associated with economically important traits have been identified using this linkage map. The genetic linkage map based on microsatellites could be useful for QTL analysis in aquaculture.
