Genetic divergence accessed with microsatellite markers reflects the time of Crassostrea gigas genetic breeding in Brazil.

ABSTRACT

The Pacific Oyster was introduced on Santa Catarina Island in 1987, experiencing processes of selection and genetic breeding since then. Such procedures may have led to the establishment of specific strains, given the saltier and warmer conditions of the Atlantic Ocean. This study employed microsatellite markers to compare allelic patterns of oysters cultivated in Santa Catarina, the USA, and Asia. Specific allelic patterns were revealed in the Santa Catarina samples, reflecting the time of selection/breeding of the oyster in this region. This result supports the effectiveness of the selection/breeding procedures and the demand for protection of this commercially important genetic resource.