Preliminary data on genetic variability and purity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) strains kept at the live gene bank at Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation (HAKI) Szarvas, Hungary

As a part of the genetic characterisation of the 31 carp strains kept at the live gene bank at Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation (HAKI) Szarvas, Hungary, genetic purity and variability of two wild strains (Dunai and Tiszai) originating from the two major river systems (Danube and Tisza) of Hungary, was described. The mitochondrial NADH-3,4 dehydrogenase (ND-3/4) and NADH-5,6 dehydrogenase (ND-5/6) genes (PCR-RFLP) and four microsatellite loci were studied in these two varieties. The PCR-RFLP analysis using the restriction enzymes HinfI, AluI, HpaII and TaqI at ND-3/4 and BsuRI and Eco47I at ND-5/6 mitochondrial genes did not give evidence for mixing of European and Asian carp in the two strains examined. All individuals showed the typical European haplotype, providing evidence of the purity of these strains from the matrilineal perspective. The microsatellite data, based on four loci (MFW1, MFW6, MFW7, MFW28) showed that the mean number of alleles was significantly higher (11.25) in the Tiszai strain than in the Dunai strain (8.75). The mean observed heterozygosity was 0.874 in the Tiszai and 0.942 in the Dunai strain, respectively, and the mean expected heterozygosity was lower in both strains (0.850 and 0.831). There were significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at 3 of 4 loci in the Tiszai population and at all the 4 loci in the Dunai population. The pairwise FST value was found to be relatively low (0.05) but highly significant (P < 0.001). An assignment test showed that 93.4% of the individuals could be classified correctly into their original strain.