Application of microsatellite markers for genetic conservation and management of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus, Borodin, 1897) in the Caspian Sea

• Main Authors: Moghim, Mehdi, Javanmard, Arash, Pourkazemi, Mohammad, Tan, Soon Guan, Panandam, Jothi Malar, Kor, Davod, Laloei, Faramarz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Verlag GmbH 2013
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29295/1/Application%20of%20microsatellite%20markers%20for%20genetic%20conservation%20and%20management%20of%20Persian%20sturgeon%20%28Acipenser%20persicus%2C%20Borodin%2C%201897%29%20in%20the%20Caspian%20Sea.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29295/; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jai.12195/abstract

A study was conducted to ascertain the genetic structure and the level of heterozygosity of Acipenser persicus in the Caspian Sea. A total of 167 fish were randomly collected from Turkmenistan, Russia and two regions of Iran. The number of alleles of eleven microsatellite markers ranged from 3 to 21 and the mean observed values of heterozygosity were 0.56 ± 0.20, 0.64 ± 0.14, 0.67 ± 0.16, and 0.64 ± 0.11. The observed heterozygosity was lower than the expected levels. The observed low genetic differentiation indicates that all populations are closely related. Hence, inbreeding is a potential problem, which should be taken into consideration in future breeding programs to avoid a further decline in genetic diversity.