Identification of a dominant SCAR marker associated with colour traits in Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Flesh colour in salmonids is a very important commercial trait that shows additive genetic variance with significant environmental influence. Selective breeding for this trait is difficult, since phenotypic evaluation requires individuals to be sacrificed for scoring. We have identified a RAPD marker that co-segregates with colour traits scored as breeding values based on visual evaluations of flesh colour in Coho salmon. The experimental approach included RAPD screening with 440 primers and selective DNA pooling. Individuals used to make pools were selected according to their high and low breeding values as predicted using a DFREML algorithm. A single RAPD polymorphism segregating for flesh colour was used to derive a molecular single locus SCAR marker (Oki206, GeneBank accession AY661427) associated with muscle colour traits (χ2 = 21.208, P < 0.0001) that has potential for use in marker assisted selection.