A microsatellite panel for triploid verification in the abalone Haliotis midae

Abstract

A method for ploidy verification of triploid and diploid Haliotis midae was developed using molecular microsatellite markers. In all, 30 microsatellite loci were tested in control populations. A final micro satellite multiplex consisting of seven markers were optimised and a complete protocol is reported. This protocol was successfully applied in identifying the ploidy levels of 42 ploidy-unknown abalone, showing the utility of microsatellite markers as tools for verifying the ploidy of individual abalone. The protocol can be applied in larger animals for which the isolation of nuclei and metaphase chromosomes from tissues is difficult.

Keywords: abalone, Haliotis midae, microsatellites, triploidy