A first genetic linkage map of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) using AFLP markers

Genetic linkage maps were constructed for bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, using AFLP in a F(1) inter-population hybrid family based on a double-pseudo testcross strategy. Sixty-four primer combinations produced 4,010 loci, of which 222 maternal loci and 216 paternal loci segregated at a 1:1 Mendelian ratio, respectively. The female and male framework maps consisted of 176 and 177 markers ordered into 31 and 33 genetic linkage groups, spanning 1628.2 and 1525.3 cM, with an average marker spacing of 10.71 and 10.59 cM, respectively. Genome coverage was estimated to be 69.5 and 69.3% for the female and male framework maps, respectively. On the maternal genetic linkage map, the maximum length and marker number of the linkage groups were 122.9 cM and 14, respectively. For the paternal map, the maximum length and marker number of the linkage groups were 345.3 cM and 19, respectively, which were much greater than those on the maternal genetic linkage map. The other genetic linkage map parameters of the paternal genetic linkage map were similar to those in the maternal genetic linkage map. For both the female and male maps, the number of linkage groups was greater than the haploid chromosome number of bluegill (2n = 48), indicating some linkage groups may distribute on the same chromosome. This genetic linkage mapping is the first step toward to the QTL mapping of traits important to cultured breeding in bluegill.