ICAR-CIBA Scientists Decode Genome of Economically Vital Mangrove Red Snapper

Researchers at the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) in Chennai have made significant scientific progress by successfully sequencing and assembling the entire genome and full-length transcriptome of the mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus. This milestone represents a significant leap in aquaculture and fisheries science.

The mangrove red snapper is a highly valued seafood commodity with substantial economic significance, high consumer demand, and notable importance in aquaculture. The ICAR-CIBA scientists have also achieved successful breeding of this species, which adds to its aquaculture potential.

The newly assembled genome, measuring 1.03 gigabases (Gb) in size, consists of 400 scaffolds with an N50 value of 33.8 megabases (Mb). Using the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) method, the genome was found to be 97.2% complete, containing 27,172 protein-coding genes. This comprehensive genomic resource is crucial for the identification and analysis of genes and variants related to adaptive traits.

These groundbreaking research findings have been published in the Scientific Data journal, a prestigious publication by the Nature group of journals. The decoded genome information is expected to significantly enhance growth potential, reproduction, maturation, and other economically important traits of the mangrove red snapper. Moreover, this genomic resource paves the way for the application of genomic selection programs in aquaculture and fisheries, facilitating the genetic improvement of farmed fish for sustainable production.

The research team from ICAR-CIBA includes esteemed scientists M.S. Shekhar, Vinaya Kumar Katneni, Ashok Kumar Jangam, J. Raymond Jani Angel, and M. Kailasam. The Genome Sequencing Project received financial support from the ICAR-Consortium Research Platform on Genomics and was coordinated by Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science) at ICAR, New Delhi, and Dr. Vindhya Mohindra from ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow.

This achievement underscores the potential for genomic technologies to revolutionize aquaculture, contributing to the sustainable and economically viable production of valuable seafood commodities.