Genetic Variation among Three Species of Genus Erythroculter

The genus Erythroculter (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae, Abramidinae) is one of the most commercially important freshwater fish species inhabiting China. However, very limited information is available regarding genetic variation among Erythroculter species, therefore hindering their effective management. In this regard, microsatellite markers and sequences of mitochondrial COII and D-loop were analyzed to investigate the genetic variation among three species of genus Erythroculter. Results demonstrated that 11 microsatellite loci were amplified effectually, and the size of allele was 110–350, 94–338 and 86–384 bps in E. ilishaeformis, E. dabryi and E. mongolicus respectively. Average number of allele was 5.82, 5.73 and 6.45 per locus for E. ilishaeformis, E. dabryi and E. mongolicus respectively. Fragments of COII and D-loop was 675 and 929 bps respectively. On the basis of Shannon’s information index, heterozygosity, polymorphic information content and nucleotide diversity index (P), the microsatellite and nucleotide diversity of E. ilishaeformis was most abundant, and that of E. mongolicus was least abundant. Based on the haplotype distribution of D-loop or the allele size in microsatellite loci of EI19 or HWB05, it could be distinguished perfectly among E. ilishaeformis, E. dabryi and E. mongolicus. Some historical and environmental elements might result in the high genetic divergence and promote the speciation of E. ilishaeformis, E. dabryi and E. mongolicus. These results would be of avail in the conservation and sustainable utilization of these three species.