Genetic Diversity of Farmed Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) Evaluated from Microsatellite Analysis

The Chinese soft shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) has been used as food and medicine for thousands of years in China. In the last 25 years, some large-scale P. sinensis farms have been established. However, little is known about the genetic variations in farmed broodstocks although, they are important in selective breeding. Researchers genotyped 336 individuals from seven stocks using eight polymorphic microsatellites to study genetic diversity and population structure of P. sinensis. In the seven stocks, a total of 120 alleles were detected at the eight loci. All seven stocks showed high allelic (A = 9.50-12.25; Ar = 9.25-12.50) and gene diversity (H-E = 0.73-0.79). But certain degree of inbreeding (inbreeding index franged from 0.07-0.23) was detected in all seven stocks. Both AMOVA and F-ST analysis revealed significant population structuring (F-ST = 0.114, p < 0.01). The information about genetic diversity and population structure of the seven stocks would supply a basis for future genetic improvement of P. sinensis through selective and cross breeding.