Analysis of the genetic diversity and differentiation of Fenneropenaeus penicillatus populations using AFLP technology

Abstract

A bstractFenneropenaeus p enicillatus (redtail shrimp) is an important marine commercial animal in China. Recently, its resources have been depleted rapidly as a result of, for example, over-exploitation and environmental degradation of spawning grounds. Therefore, we analyzed the genetic diversity and differentiation of nine wild populations of F . penicillatus of China (Ningde, Lianjiang, Putian, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangpu, Dongshan, Nanao, and Shenzhen populations) by amplifi ed fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technology, to provide genetic information necessary for resource protection, rejuvenation, artifi cial breeding, and sustainable use of the resource. Eight AFLP primer pairs were used for amplifi cation, and 508 bands were detected among the populations. The results show that the percentage of polymorphic loci ( P ) ranged from 41.34% to 63.58%; the Nei's gene diversity ( H ) of the populations was 0.119 4-0.230 5; and Shannon's Information Index ( I ) was 0.184 1-0.342 5. These genetic data indicate that the genetic diversity of F . penicillatus was high. The genetic differentiation coeffi cient ( G ST =0.216 2) and gene fl ow ( N m =1.812 4) show that there was a high level of genetic differentiation and a moderate level of gene fl ow among populations. More studies on the genetic differentiation mechanism of F . penicillatus along the south-eastern coast of China need to be conducted to fi nd more effective scientifi c protection strategies for the conservation of F . penicillatus genetic r esources.