SNP panel development for genetic management of wild and domesticated white bass (Morone chrysops)

White bass (Morone chrysops), striped bass and their interspecific hybrid are important game fishes, whereas the hybrid striped bass is an important aquaculture species in the US. Numerous state, federal and private hatcheries, therefore, rear these species for stocking purposes as well as for food fish. Although striped bass populations (both wild and domesticated) have been extensively evaluated, relatively little effort has been directed toward the study and improvement of white bass. In this study, we developed SNP resources to examine the genetic relationships among a long-term domesticated white bass line and five potential founder stocks for selective breeding collected from drainages in Arkansas, Texas and Alabama. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we generated 13 872 genome-wide SNP loci across the six populations. Stringent filtering of SNP-calling parameters identified 426 informative SNP loci. Population genetic and structure analyses using these loci revealed only moderate genetic differentiation between populations (global F-st = 0.083) and indicated two major genetic clusters. A final 57-SNP assay was successfully designed and validated using the MassARRAY system. The developed SNP panel assigned 96 additional genotyped individuals to their population of origin with 100% accuracy. The SNP resources developed in this study should facilitate ongoing efforts in selective breeding and conservation of white bass.