SNPs of myostatin (MSTN) gene and their association with growth traits in three bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations

Genetic diversity and correlation analysis between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of myostatin (MSTN) gene and the growth traits were performed in Argopecten irradians. Around 279 individuals from three A. irradians populations were screened for the polymorphic sites of the MSTN gene. Two SNPs were found: T910G and G1162A. The observed heterozygosity of the two SNPs ranged from 0.1310 to 0.3299, whereas the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.1436 to 0.2973. The values of D' and r(2) of linkage disequilibrium (LD) ranged from 0.475 to 1.0 and 0.052 to 0.174 respectively. Association analysis shows that individuals with genotype TT and TG of locus W4 had significantly higher adductor muscle mass than that with genotype GG in population CA (P < 0.05). Individuals with genotype AA of locus W5 had significantly higher body mass, soft-tissue mass, adductor muscle mass, shell width and shell mass than those of other genotypes in population RZ (P < 0.05). The two SNPs found in our study can be used for molecule marker-assisted breeding of A. irradians.