Association between myostatin gene (MSTN-1) polymorphism and growth traits in domesticated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In this study, the polymorphism of myostatin gene (MSTN-1) as a candidate gene for quantitative traits was analyzed in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The association between the MSTN-1 polymorphisms and growth traits were also studied. Forty broodstock parents of rainbow trout from two farms including Yasuj and Shahrkord were selected and tagged. These spawning were mated and then juveniles were raised at the ponds until 5 months post-hatching. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: g.660T > C and g.1904C > A) in intron 1 and 2 regions of the MSTN-1 gene in rainbow trout were determined by DNA sequencing and PCR-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) methods. The assessment results demonstrated that these two site mutations are synonymous mutations and therefore 6 haplotypes were revealed in these samples (n = 120). Moreover, One way ANOVA of the SNPs and growth traits revealed the genotypes of SNP g.1904C > A are associated with the length and body weight at 90 and 150 days of age (P < 0.05), whereas no significant association was found between the SNP g.660T > C and growth trait parameters. These results provide evidence that SNPs in MSTN-1 gene may be associated with length and body weight during the early stages of life (from hatching to 5 months of age), therefore MSTN-1 gene may be used for rainbow trout breeding program.