Accuracy of genomic prediction using multiple Atlantic salmon populations.

Background: The accuracy of genomic prediction is partly determined by the size of the reference population. In Atlantic salmon breeding programs, four parallel populations often exist, thus offering the opportunity to increase the size of the reference set by combining these populations. By allowing a reduction in the number of records per population, multi-population prediction can potentially reduce cost and welfare issues related to the recording of traits, particularly for diseases.

Applying genetic technologies to combat infectious diseases in aquaculture.

Disease and parasitism cause major welfare, environmental and economic concerns for global aquaculture. In this review, we examine the status and potential of technologies that exploit genetic variation in host resistance to tackle this problem. We argue that there is an urgent need to improve understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved, leading to the development of tools that can be applied to boost host resistance and reduce the disease burden.

Quantitative Genetics of Growth Rate and Filet Quality Traits in Atlantic Salmon Inferred From a Longitudinal Bayesian Model for the Left-Censored Gaussian Trait Growth Rate.

In selective breeding programs for Atlantic salmon, test fish are slaughtered at an average body weight where growth rate and carcass traits as filet fat ( ), filet pigment ( ) and visceral fat index ( ) are recorded. The objective of this study was to obtain estimates of genetic correlations between growth rate (GR), and the three carcass quality traits when fish from the same 206 families (offspring of 120 sires and 206 dams from 2 year-classes) were recorded both at the same age () and about the same body weight (). In the group, the largest fish were slaughtered at five different slaughter events and the remaining fish at the sixth slaughter event over 6 months.

Genetic variation and heritability of grain protein deviation in European wheat genotypes.

There is a well-established negative relationship between the yield and the concentration of protein in the mature wheat grain. However, some wheat genotypes consistently deviate from this relationship, a phenomenon known as Grain Protein Deviation (GPD). Positive GPD is therefore of considerable interest in relation to reducing the requirement for nitrogen fertilization for producing wheat for breadmaking.