Utility of Mitochondrial Atpase 8 Gene Sequence in Identification of Indian Carps

Abstract

Identification of fish species is essential for better broodstock management as well as for the detection of unintentional or fraudulent species substitutions in the market place. Twenty seven individuals from 4 Indian carp species were analyzed to assess the utility of mitochondrial ATPase 8 gene sequences in identifying four cultivable carp species i.e, Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo fimbriatus from India. Results of sequencing and alignment of the full length ATPase 8 gene of the four species revealed that there were enough species specific signatures which could be used for differentiating these four species. The phylogenetic analysis of Indian carp species by the Kimura 2-parameter method showed that each species forms a separate clade, and L. rohita is more closely related to L. fimbriatus than C. catla and C. mrigala. This study using only a very short sequence of ATPase 8 gene may help in identification of carp species as well as detection of fraudulent substitution of fish species.