Microsatellite DNA markers associated with resistance to WSSV in Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) chinensis

An F2 family of Chinese shrimp, Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) chinensis, was used to conduct analysis of an association between microsatellite DNA markers and resistance to WSSV (white spot syndrome virus). The total of 163 individuals from the F2 family was challenged with WSSV by oral infection in an indoor tank. Nested-PCR was used to test for infection of WSSV. Eighteen primer pairs were selected to genotype 80 individuals in the F2 family. Associations of individual marker alleles with resistance to WSSV were analysed by ANOVA. The results showed that all shrimp challenged were confirmed to have been infected by WSSV. The mean number of alleles, mean expected heterozygosity, and mean polymorphic information content were 2.50, 0.536 and 0.446, respectively. An allele at microsatellite locus RS0622 was associated with resistance to WSSV. Identification of a larger number of DNA markers linked to QTL controlling the resistance to WSSV will contribute to the application of DNA marker-assisted selection in aquacultural breeding of Chinese shrimp.