Polymorphism in ornamental and common carp strains (Cyprinus carpio L.) as revealed by AFLP analysis and a new set of microsatellite markers

Abstract.

Forty-seven new microsatellite markers were generated and applied, together with the AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique using two different enzyme combinations, to the genetic analysis of two carp species, Cyprinus carpio L. and Ctenopharyngodon idella. The extent of polymorphism and the genetic relationships between nine carp populations were studied. The incidence of microsatellites containing CA and CT motifs was estimated to be one every 17.4 and one every 126.3 kb, respectively, and their average allele numbers were four and five, respectively. Across populations, the average proportion of individuals that were heterozygous for microsatellite markers was 44.2% and the average allele number was 4.02. The EcoRI/TaqI combination generated more analyzable AFLP bands than the EcoRI/MseI pair, making the former preferable for the analysis of carp populations. The proportion of polymorphic AFLP bands within populations ranged from 6.7% in grass carp to 59.9% in Kohaku strain (Koi) of the ornamental carp. The fixation index (F_ST) for microsatellites in these populations was estimated to be 0.37, and for AFLP markers the value was 0.39. Genetic distance matrices derived from microsatellites and from two AFLP analyses were positively correlated. Grass carp showed fewer AFLP bands than other populations and was genotyped by only half of the microsatellite markers. These findings agree with genetic distance estimates in suggesting that the grass carp is phylogenetically quite remote from all the other populations examined.