Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Leetown, West Virginia » Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160405
Title: GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF RAINBOW TROUT: SELECTIVE BREEDING, GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES AND REALITY

Author
item PARSONS, JAMES - TROUTLODGE, INC
item Silverstein, Jeffrey
item Palti, Yniv

Submitted to: World Aquaculture Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Parsons, J., Silverstein, J., Palti, Y. 2004. Genetic improvement of rainbow trout: selective breeding, genetic technologies and reality. World Aquaculture Society Meeting book of Abstracts. p. 459.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The use of genetics in aquaculture has traditionally involved selecting broodstock with superior breeding value based on analysis of quantitative genetic traits. Superior breeding value means that the better performance of selected organisms is passed predictably to their offspring. Rainbow trout have a long history of domestication relative to many other commonly farmed fish and selective breeding has been responsible for considerable changes in phenotype. Furthermore, the genes and genome of rainbow trout have been the focus of many studies and the tools being developed have tremendous promise. In this paper we will review traditional family and combined selection, and applications of DNA markers for genetic tagging, parentage analysis and selective breeding. First, we will show how modern breeding programs are conducting family selection programs and examples of improvements in growth and disease resistance from a commercial program. Next we will describe the use of DNA markers for parentage analysis, and how these same markers can be evaluated for associations with traits of economic importance. The focus of our presentation will be to point out the pitfalls of current family selection programs, the promise held out by DNA technologies and the barriers to implementing DNA technologies on a practical basis.