Generation of ornamental Nile tilapia with distinct gray and black body color pattern by csf1ra mutation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101077
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04T07:19:39Z
• Authors: Baoyue Lu; Chenxu Wang; Guangyuan Liang; Mengmeng Xu; Thomas D. Kocher; Lina Sun; Deshou Wang
• Keywords: Nile tilapia; Chimera (genetics); Skin Color

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an important species in aquaculture and excellent model fish for studying teleost color patterns. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor a (csf1ra) critical xanthophores development body formation zebrafish guppy. In this study, we established csf1ra mutant lines with two different targets by CRISPR/Cas9 tilapia. Unlike the wild type (WT) vertical bars, homozygous mutants showed patterns, either uniformly gray (GT) or black tail (BT). Compared WT, had fewer melanophores, few no erythrophores. Increased numbers of melanophores were observed BT mutants. However, establishment early embryonic pigment cell precursors appearance on independent csf1ra. contrast, bar pattern dependent late metamorphic required The deletion erythrophores caused mutation changed These results demonstrated that activity essential erythrophores, developing melanophores. provided good models analyzing genetic basis formation. Our study may help deepen understanding pattern, especially cichlids bars. addition, might be developed as ornamental (BT) new strains aquaculture.