International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 29-36 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 34 as HIF-1α), which in turn affects energy metabolism and muscle production. Although specific mechanisms vary by species and conditions, the apparent effects and metabolic reprogramming of these environmental stress factors have been reflected in studies such as bass and trout (Jiang et al., 2021), and the impact on the meat quality of bamboo shoot shell fish deserves in-depth research. 7.3 Epigenetic regulation and gene-environment interactions Epigenetic mechanisms are an important link to explain the long-term impact of environmental factors on gene expression. Environmental stress (such as temperature changes, nutritional levels) can affect gene activity by inducing DNA methylation, histone modifications and changes in non-coding RNA expression, thereby affecting the phenotype. Lin et al. (2018) review pointed out that environmental stimulation causes hereditable changes in gene expression patterns through epigenetic modification. For bamboo shoot shellfish, epigenetic spectrum research under different breeding environments will help understand population genetic variation and breeding responses, and provide new ideas for choosing excellent varieties such as high temperature tolerance and density tolerance. 8 Genetic Breeding Strategies and Molecular Marker Development 8.1 Application of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding Based on the above genetic information, molecular markers associated with the target trait can be developed for assisted selection. Currently, commonly used markers in fish breeding include SNP, SSR, etc. For example, studies have identified genetic markers related to rapid growth and higher bone-to-female ratios. Applying markers of relevant QTL regions to breeding can accelerate the seed selection process (Cuiyun et al., 2013). For bamboo shoot shellfish, establishing a marker-trait association database for muscle growth and meaty traits is the basis for promoting MAS. 8.2 Potential of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 show great potential in the field of aquatic breeding. It can knock out, insert or replace target genes directly at the genome level, verify gene function and improve traits. Cai et al. (2020) used CRISPR technology to knock out the tilapia MRF4 gene and observed significant changes in muscle gene expression. Similar methods can be used for functional gene research and breeding improvement of bamboo shoot shellfish, such as precise regulation of growth inhibitors (such as myostatin) or enhance flavor-related gene expression (Sukhan et al., 2024). As the technology matures, this strategy is expected to be used to optimize the growth rate and meaty traits of bamboo shoot shell fish. 8.3 Integrated breeding strategies for improving muscle and flesh quality traits Future breeding can combine traditional breeding, molecular marking and gene editing methods. On the one hand, excellent alleles can be enriched through MAS or genotype selection, and on the other hand, gene editing can be used to directly improve the function of key genes. During comprehensive breeding, we also need to pay attention to the coordination of environment and management, such as optimizing feed density, adjusting feed formula, etc., to realize the genetic potential. Overall, the combination of interdisciplinary means will promote the continuous improvement of the muscle and meat performance of bamboo shoot shell fish. Acknowledgements The authors are very grateful to Zhang P.T. for reading and also to thank the two peer reviewers for their suggestions. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors confirm that the study was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships and could be interpreted as a potential conflict of interest. References Blay C., Haffray P., Bugeon J., D’Ambrosio J., Dechamp N., Collewet G., Enez F., Petit V., Cousin X., Corraze G., Phocas F., and Dupont-Nivet M.,2021, Genetic parameters and genome-wide association studies of quality traits characterised using imaging technologies in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Frontiers in Genetics, 12: 639223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.639223
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