Identification of Male-Specific Markers by Genotyping-by-Sequencing in the Giant Spiny Frog, Quasipaa spinosa.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Quasipaa spinosa, a large-sized spiny frog, has high commercial value in the food trade. Although the sexual dimorphism in body size between males and females has been investigated, the sex-determining mechanism in this frog remains unknown.

METHODS

This study employed a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method to identify sex-associated genomic markers and elucidate the sex determination mechanism in the species.

RESULTS

We obtained 853 candidate sex-specific GBS tags, with 811 tags (95.07%) demonstrating a male heterozygous system (XX/XY). The diagnostic specificity of the nine markers was further demonstrated by PCR analysis across multiple adult individuals from seven distinct geographic populations of the frog. Four sex-specific markers were aligned with the DMRT1 gene, representing a master regulator of sex determination and gonadal differentiation across the animal kingdom.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results deciphered the genetic mechanisms governing sex determination in Q. spinosa and presented effective strategies for mono-sex breeding.