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Greenshell (TM) mussel project to sequence the species’ genome

L-R: Katja Czieselsky (summer student), Prof Neil Gemmell, Dr Shannon Clarke

The CRG Opportunity Fund helps to boost areas with strong potential, and enabling one of the centre’s pioneering aquaculture projects is something that could mean serious dollars for New Zealand’s export earnings.

The Greenshell^TM mussel is considered to be the cornerstone of the New Zealand aquaculture industry, and Dr Shannon Clarke is leading a project to sequence the species’ genome. The project began in 2010 via the priming primary partnership initiative administered through the University of Otago. It was established by Professor Neil Gemmell, who linked together the AgResearch team with the Greenshell^TM mussel breeding programme lead by Nick King at the Cawthron Institute.

The Greenshell^TM mussel project draws on significant experience with agricultural species but is also establishing some new ground. With work on the Chinook salmon also in progress (a NIWA, New Zealand King Salmon and AgResearch collaboration), Centre for Reproduction and Genomics researchers are just starting to get a feel for the different requirements of species farmed in the sea.

CRG Director Professor Neil Gemmell says these initial aquaculture projects could lay the foundation for long-term involvement. “We are building relationships with industry and I believe that in the fullness of time we will get a strong programme. It’s about figuring out the path from where we are to developing the tools to make that happen.”

Research Associate Hayley Baird is working in the lab to locate significant microsatellite and SNP markers. She will be assisted by a German student over the 2011-2012 summer, made possible by the Opportunity Fund. At this point the aim is to provide a ‘genomic scaffold’ to better understand what Greenshell^TM mussel DNA looks like in detail. Clarke hopes that those details will then mean the ability to breed the right type of high-value shellfish using the CRG’s genomic expertise and technologies.

Where the future industry value really lies is in establishing what that ‘right type’ will be. This means determining which traits are desired by international consumers and keeping on top of market demands. It could be a dark coloured shell in Japan or a stronger tasting product in Europe, for example, and could easily change at any time.

However, production-related traits are also worth pursuing. Many of these are similar to those preferred in agriculture, such as genes that ensure good health, rapid growth, feed conversion efficiency and ease of care. Some of these are hugely important where environmental conditions cannot be fully controlled, such as in a tank in the sea, says Clarke.

“Much like sheep or any other commercial species, the genes of interest depend on what the market wants. But something that would make a huge difference in this industry would be the discovery of genes relating to disease resistance.”

So far, one of the biggest challenges of starting out in aquaculture has been establishing the right context. The commercial profile of sheep in New Zealand means pedigree data is well known and recorded, with farmers practicing selective breeding as a matter of course. The burgeoning Greenshell^TM mussel industry, although already worth $202 million per year in export earnings, is only just starting along that track.

Phenotypic information provided by The Cawthron Institute showed that significant progress has been made, but there are huge opportunities to fast-track genetic gain and progress towards the perfect product. These two different sides of the science work together, says Clarke.

“We know we can find markers in the DNA, but it needs to have a phenotypic context. Good breeding programmes are really important for allowing production to meet its full potential.”