Evaluation of a novel pentaplex microsatellite marker system for paternity studies in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Five Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) microsatellites (Gmo8, Gmo19, Gmo35, Gmo37 and Tch11) were selected for parentage assignment. All markers were co-amplified using dye-labelled primers and sized by automated sample processing in a 3130xl Genetic Analyser. The genotyping of samples was reproducible and alleles from all loci could be genotyped confidently (precision and accuracy above 99.7 and 99.1% respectively). The number of alleles, observed allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated. A population database was established for fish originating from randomly selected wild-caught Norwegian coastal- and North-East Arctic cod. Combined paternity exclusion and the probability of match were 99.97 and 1.5 × 10^-9 respectively. The multiplex assay system was used successfully for parental assignment of 2336 juveniles from different mass spawning breeding tanks. Of all offspring, 91.2% were assigned to a single parental pair. In total, 523 different matings were recorded, and 69 of 70 dams and all of the 30 sires contributed to the offspring.