Exploration of an XX/XY Sex Determination System and Development of PCR-Based Sex-specific Markers in Procambarus clarkii Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Data

Many economic crustacean species have sex dimorphisms during their growth. Exploring the sex determination system and developing sex-specific molecular marker(s) are very helpful for carrying out sex control breeding, and next-generation sequencing has been used as an efficient way to explore them in recent years. In this study, first, the genetic sex determination system of was explored as an XX/XY system by analyzing the 2b-RAD sequencing data. Furthermore, DNA samples of male and female individuals from a family were pooled separately for whole-genome resequencing. Based on the data of whole-genome resequencing, the 9,163 male- and female-specific bias sites with higher feasibility were obtained based on the assumption of the XX/XY sex determination system, and four sites were selected to design the sex-specific marker primers. One efficient sex-specific marker was identified with a sex discrimination rate of 99.49% (195/196) when applied to five different geographical groups with 196 individuals. The results of this study would provide a foundation for the realization of sex control and could provide some reference for investigating the sex determination system and sex molecular marker(s) of other crustacean species based on next-generation sequencing data.