Low genetic diversity and genetic differentiation among domesticated stocks of the small abalone Haliotis diversicolor in China

• Published in: African journal of biotechnology Vol. 10; no. 83; pp. 19267 - 19275
• Main Authors: Liu, J, Zeng, B, Du, T, Rao, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 21-12-2011
• Subjects: Haliotis; Haliotis diversicolor; Africa; China, People's Rep
• ISSN: 1684-5315; 1684-5315
• DOI: 10.5897/AJB10.2344

AFLP markers were used to investigate levels of genetic diversity within cultured populations of the small abalone Haliotis diversicolor in China and to compare them with a wild population. A total of 234 fragments, with a size range of 150-500 bp, were identified from 152 individuals by five AFLP primer combinations. High proportion of polymorphic loci (77.65%) and heterozygosity (0.2124) were found within the natural population, while low proportion of polymorphic loci (24.51 to 64.31%) and heterozygosity (0.0677 to 0.1665) were detected within the six cultured poputetionsi. The results show a significantly reduced genetic diversity in the hatchery stocks when compared with the wild population. AMOVA analysis, pairwise comparison of H. diversicolor in recent years might have association with the reduction in genetic diversity. The results also indicate that all cultured populations, excluding TW and ZJ stocks, may not be suitable as source populations for selective breeding programs; some natural populations and foreign stocks introduced from outside China should be considered.