Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Genetic linkage maps are indispensable tools in a wide range of genetic and genomic research. With the advancement of genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) methods, the construction of a high-density linkage maps has become achievable in marine organisms lacking sufficient genomic resources, such as mollusks. In this study, high-density linkage map was constructed for an ecologically and commercially important clam species, Ruditapes philippinarum. For the consensus linkage map, a total of 9658 markers spanning 1926.98 cM were mapped to 18 sex-averaged linkage groups, with an average marker distance of 0.42 cM. Based on the high-density linkage map, ten QTLs for growth-related traits and shell color were detected. The coverage and density of the current map are sufficient for us to effectively detect QTL for segregating traits, and two QTL positions were all coincident with the closest markers. This high-density genetic linkage map reveals basic genomic architecture and will be useful for comparative genomics research, genome assembly and genetic improvement of R. philippinarum and other bivalve molluscan species.