An international team of researchers, which includes members of the Centre of Marine and Environmental Interdisciplinary Research (CIIMAR) at the University of Porto, developed an innovative genomic tool published in the journal Aquaculture. This technology aims to revolutionize clam production, making them more resistant to diseases and climate change, being crucial for sustainable aquaculture and for the management of two species of great economic importance: the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus).
These species are widely cultivated worldwide, but face challenges such as habitat degradation, climate change, and increasing diseases. The new technology enables rapid and cost-effective analysis of DNA variations in clams, using genetic markers to identify individuals with desirable traits, such as greater disease resistance and better adaptation capacity.
The developed platform, called SNP-chip, is the first high-density one for these two species, bringing together approximately 63 thousand genetic markers, of which more than 45 thousand were validated for the Manila clam. The Aquatic Animal Health group (A2S) also managed to identify more than 13 thousand markers related to the grooved carpet shell's resistance to a parasite that affects its production. This tool will also facilitate the identification of kinship relationships, the monitoring of genetic diversity, and the sustainable management of marine populations.
According to researcher Sergio Fernández-Boo from CIIMAR, this tool can support coastal communities through the implementation of breeding programs with significant impact on the Blue Economy sector. The platform will be openly available to the scientific community, with the participation of universities and research institutes from Italy, Spain, and France, as well as companies in the aquaculture genetics sector, and was funded by the IGNITION, ShellfishBoost, and PRR projects in Italy.
