Yield trait improvement of bay scallops following complete diallel crosses between different scallop stocks

This study describes the complete diaUel hybridization between newly introduced bay scallop stock （W） from Canada and local commercial stock （D） grown under laboratory conditions, in China. Larval survival and growth during all life stages （larvae, spat, and adult） were compared among hybrid （DW, WD） and purebred （DD, WW） populations. Significant heterosis was detected for survival during the larval stage （〉 1% of the mid-parent values）. The mean heterosis （Hm） varied in growth throughout the life span. More than 50% of the Hm values were positive and negative in the DW and WD groups, respectively. The influence of maternal effects and mating types （intrapopulation vs. interpopulation crosses） on growth for all life stages was not consistent. Larval survival did not differ significantly （P〉0.05） with maternal effect or mating type. In the harvest stage, shell length （SL）, shell height （SH）, shell width （SW）, and total weight （TW） were larger in the hybrid compared with the inbred groups. Positive Hm values were observed in SL （1.5%）, SW （5.8%）, and TW （12.3%）, and were more significant in the DW groups （6.1%, 4.5%, 6.8%, and 27.2%）. These results suggest that hybridization between two geographic populations is a good tool for improving bay scallop growth. However, unstable heterosis between the two populations requires further study.

Characterization of Wnt genes in Argopecten scallops and their involvement in response to different temperature stresses in“Bohai Red”scallops

As“Bohai Red”scallops were originated from the hybrids between the Peruvian scallop(Argopecten purpuratus)and the bay scallop(Argopecten irradians)northern subspecies(Argopecten irradians irradians).Twelve Wnt members were identified from the two subspecies of bay scallop,and 13 Wnt genes were found in the genome of the Peruvian scallop.Protein structure analyses showed that most Wnt genes poses all 5 conserved motifs except Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt6,and Wnt9 in the bay scallops and Wnt2 and Wnt9 in the Peruvian scallop.Unexpectedly,Wnt8 gene was present while Wnt3 was absent in both the bay scallops and the Peruvian scallop.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Wnt3 might have disappeared in the early evolution of mollusks.The expression profile of Wnt genes in the“Bohai Red”exposed to different temperatures was examined by qRT-PCR.Results show that expression of Wnt genes responded differentially to temperature changes.The Wnt genes such as Wnt1,Wnt6,Wnt7,Wnt11,and WntA that responded slowly to low and high temperature stresses may be related to the maintenance of basic homeostasis.Other Wnt genes such as Wnt4,Wnt9,Wnt5,and Wnt2 that responded rapidly to low temperature may play an important role in organismal protection against low temperature stress.And yet some Wnt genes including Wnt10,Wnt16,and Wnt8 that responded quickly to high temperature stress may play key roles in response to high temperature stress.The results provide new insights into the evolution and function of Wnt genes in bivalves and eventually benefit culture of“Bohai Red”scallops.

Production traits and fertility of reciprocal hybrids between Argopecten irradians irradians and A.i.concentricus

The two bay scallop subspecies,Argopecten irradians irradians(NN)and A.i.concentricus(SS),are fast growing and major cultured bivalves in China.However,their relatively small sizes and decreasing production traits caused by long-term inbreeding have been major concerns to the industry in the last two decades.Hybridization between the two bay scallop subspecies may provide a new approach to breed a new variety with superior production traits for the industry.For this end,in this study,we hybridized the two bay scallop subspecies in order to obtain a new strain that incorporates the genes of both subspecies.No significant difference was found in fertilization rate,hatching rate and metamorphosis rate between the purebred and crossbred cohorts(NN♀×SS♂,denoted as NS;SS♀×NN♂,denoted as SN).Both mating strategy(intra-vs.inter-population crosses)and egg origin had significant effects on growth and survival at the larval stage.Heterosis was observed in the crossbred and was more pronounced in older stages.Genetic diversity of the reciprocal hybrids,especially that of SN,was increased compared with the purebred cohorts.Almost all hybrids were completely fertile and able to reproduce by selffertilization or by backcrossing with either parent.Apparently,male sterile individuals whose gonads were fully occupied by the ovary part at mature stage were found in the hybrids for the first time.The hybrids,especially SN,may provide precious germplasm resources for the production of ternary hybrids with the Peruvian scallop,A.purpuratus.