Molecular discrimination of five Mahseer species from Indian peninsula using RAPD analysis

Abstract

The genetic relatedness between five species of Mahseer groupTor putitora, Tor tor, Tor khudree, Tor mosal mahanadicus and Neolissochilus hexagonolepiswas examined by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNARAPDanalysis for the first time. Out of the sixty-nine random primers tested, eleven primers generated scoreable patterns in all the five species. The comparative RAPD profiles revealed that the combination of RAPD markers could discriminate the species, except between T.mosal mahanadicus and T.putitora, which had a similar RAPD profile. UPGMA analysis depicted three distinct clusters; one formed by T.putitora, T.mosal mahanadicus and T.tor, the second by T.khudree and the third of Neolissochilus hexagonolepis. The taxonomic status of T.mosal mahanadicus is the subject of disagreement between authors; it has been considered as a subspecies of T.khudree and T.tor. The results demonstrated that the T.mosal mahanadicus of the river Mahanadi is closer to T.putitora than to the other Tor species studied and reassessment of its systematic position is required.