Prediction of Potential Hybridization between Three Major Carps in Ravi River (Punjab, Pakistan) Basin by Using Microsatellite Markers

Özet

Three major carps namely; Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala are commercially important aquaculturefreshwater fish species of Pakistan. Ascertaining the pure species status of major carps is essential for their appropriatemanagement and conservation. The use of microsatellites DNA markers and Bayesian models based statistical methods haveconsiderably improved the estimation of admixture analyses at individual level. In the present study, a set of twelveheterologus microsatellite markers were employed to assess the extent of potential hybridization in stocks of major carpscollected from Ravi River basin. The methods, Structure assignation and Newhybrids status determination statistical analyseswere used to determine the status of pure and hybrid individuals. Multidimensional and model-based Bayesian assignmentanalyses consistently delineated the presence of individuals having mixed-ancestry genome and detected different levels ofhybridization between major carps fish species. The clustering analyses showed high efficiency in the detection of F1 hybridsas well as potential backcross specimens. For the first time, the incidence of natural hybridization between major carp fishspecies was detected on genetic basis, at frequency rates reaching about 7.77% in Ravi River basin Punjab, Pakistan. TheBayesian model statistical analyses proved to be robust tools in discriminating pure species and hybrid specimens.