Understanding Mantle Edge Pigmentation Through Comprehensive Transcriptomic Profiling of the Chilean Oyster (Ostrea chilensis)

The Chilean oyster (Ostrea chilensis) is a flat oyster native to Chile and New Zealand, and is exported to various countries. Over-exploitation has led to local extinctions in some areas. Two phenotypes, distinguished by dark or white mantle edge pigmentation, have been identified, with the dark-edged mantle oysters being more commercially valuable due to perceived quality. In this study, transcriptomic data were obtained from the mantles of both phenotypes. Total RNA was extracted of adult Chilean Oyster mantle, and samples were sequenced using HiSeq X Illumina technology.