Genetic variation of wild and hatchery populations of the mrigal Indian major carp (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) conferred by RAPD markers

Abstract

In the present study, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to compare the genetic variability of five different hatchery populations with the natural population of the Halda River of mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus). RAPD analysis of six different populations revealed 128 scorable bands of which 98 bands were polymorphic. Comparatively higher genetic similarity indices were observed between hatchery population pairs and comparatively lower inter-population genetic similarity indices (SIij) values were obtained for hatchery Halda River populations. Unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) analysis of the RAPD markers and pairwise genetic similarities of six populations of C. cirrhosus were estimated and ranged from 0.000 to 15.166 indicating that the genetic distance among these population is diversified. The hatchery populations were found more homozygous and there is a lacking genetic variability thereby providing reduced growth performance. It was obtained that the Halda River population is genetically more variable than that of other hatchery populations. The outcome of this study indicates carp culture is more profitable with Halda’s fry.