Abstract
Electrophoretic analysis of enzymes and proteins enables aquaculturists to distinguish among stocks of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and blue catfish I. furcatus, and to monitor gene flow, hybridization, and inbreeding. Sixteen previously unreported genetic markers allow much more precise resolution of stock differences. Analysis of low-risk tissue samples (caudal fin, adipose fin, and barbels) enables investigators to obtain genetic data with little stress on individual fish. We have identified at least 69 enzyme locus products in populations of channel catfish (Kansas, Marion, “Auburn,” Mississippi, and Red River strains) and blue catfish by use of autopsied tissues. Polymorphic loci account for at least 36% of the loci examined. Allelic polymorphisms fixed between blue and channel catfish were observed at 13 loci. Genetic variation was observed at 17 loci among channel catfish populations and at 5 loci in the single blue catfish population. Analysis of species-specific genetic markers among approximately 400 sampled individuals resulted in detection of two blue catfish that had been misidentified in channel catfish populations as well as four interspecific hybrids. Low-risk tissue samples allowed adequate resolution of 54 (77%) of the gene products examined. The ability to resolve at least 50 enzyme locus products from barbel samples alone will facilitate future genetic studies of populations for which sacrifice of individual brood fish is undesirable.
Published Version
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