USE OF SNP-CHIPS AND SELECTIVE DNA POOLING FOR IDENTIFYING DISEASE RESISTANCE MARKERS IN ATLANTIC SALMON

The main objective of this project is to find molecular markers that can be implemented in a marker assisted selection program (MAS) to increase genetic resistance to infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) in the Norwegian Atlantic salmon breeding program. MAS h as a great potential to increase the rate of genetic improvement over traditional selectibe breeding methods. Outcomes from previous efforts to identify and map markers linked to genes affecting important commercial traits in salmon have been limited due to relatively low power of the experimental designs as a result of: limited availability of DNA markers, limited genotyping capacity, and the use of too few and too small families. Therefore these studies captured a relatively small proportion of the gene tic variation, and as a result were not able to be effectively translated into MAS. This project will use a new high density SNP marker map and samples of fish that were challenge tested under the commercial phenotypic recording structure (SalmoBreed), as well as a novel selective DNA pooling methodology that could dramatically reduce the amount of genotyping required in future studies. These are all novel approaches. In addition, it will utilise advanced molecular inversion probe (MIP) chip based genot yping technology to genotype these samples in a high throughput and efficient manner. This approach will have a very high power to capture the majority of genetic variation and the results will be incorporated into a detailed plan for the practical implem entation of MAS for ISA resistance in the Atlantic salmon industry in Norway.