Development of SNP Markers and Their Association with MSRV Resistance in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The present study investigated the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and resistance to Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) in largemouth bass. Candidate SNPs were first screened from transcriptome sequencing data and subsequently validated, resulting in 37SNP sites with good PCR amplification performance. Genotyping was performed using high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis, and associations between SNP loci and MSRV resistance were assessed using the chi-square test. Transcriptome analysis further elucidated immune-related pathways activated in response to MSRV infection. Among the tested loci, after Bonferroni correction, four SNPs remained highly significant (p < 0.001) and three became suggestive (p < 0.05). These markers provide valuable resources for marker-assisted selection in largemouth bass breeding programs and contribute to the development of disease-resistant strains.