PRJNA796170
Macrobrachium rosenbergii isolate:GK-MROS001-T Genome sequencing and assembly
Macrobrachium rosenbergii also commonly known as giant freshwater prawn are species of palaemonid and commonly found throughout tropical and subtropical regions. It also has been introduced to several countries due to the wide range adaptability surviving in brackish environment and as a potential aquaculture candidate. To date, the giant freshwater prawn became an important element of Malaysia aquaculture and plays a significant role in in food industry and economy.In Malaysia, this particular species is widely distributed in East and West coast rivers. The broodstock obtained from wild captures is not sustainable due to fluctuations in supply and declining natural stocks, also exposing risk in terms of diseases and ecological perspectives for any given aquaculture species. Successful domestication of M. rosenbergii with improved genetic diversity and traits is necessary to ensure sufficient quantities of good quality broodstock and consequently reliable offspring production. However, the selection and broodstock management of giant freshwater prawn is a challenge in Malaysia in part due to the lack of sufficient genetic and genomic data from giant freshwater prawn populations in Malaysia.The whole genome sequencing of Malaysian giant freshwater prawn spearheaded by GK Aqua Sdn Bhd will provide the foundation for the first Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) based study involving M. rosenbergii in Malaysia aiming to improve the genetic gain in the long-term to make aquaculture sustainable. It is envisaged that with the establishment of a base population with sufficient genetic variation to sustain a long-term breeding program, a successful hatchery-based domestication of the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn can be achieved.