Microsatellite Characterization of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor spp.) for Improvement of Broodstock Management and Utilization

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The Malaysian mahseer (Tor ssp.) of the family Cyprinidae are indigenous large riverine cyprinids that occur only in Southeast Asia. They are the popular freshwater fish for food, ornamental and recreational fishing. However, their wild populations are now ecologically threatened as their numbers decline drastically over the years due to over-exploitation, natural habitat degradation and water pollution. With successful hatchery production, readily accepted artificial feed and fetched high market value, Malaysian mahseer is now considered a perspective for aquaculture. Stocks were collected from various sources for broodstock development to establish an appropriate base population with desirable characteristics that harbour adequate genetic diversity. Information on the genetic status is essential to formulate appropriate strategies for genetic resources protection and its utilization. Genetic diversity of the broodfish can be assessed rapidly with high precision using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA markers. ABSTRACT: In this study, a mixture of Tor tambra and T. tambroides with unknown genetic background were collected from 11 localities in Malaysia for broodstock development and sperm cryo-banking. This study aims to assess the microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) variation, genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, level of gene flow, population structure, genetic relatedness and their demographic aspects among these Tor populations, in addition to establishing their SSR profile by employing 22 SSR markers via fragment analysis. Total genomic DNA was extracted from 181 samples (91 cryopreserved milt samples and 90 scale samples of live broodfish). Results showed the Tor spp. collection retained their genetic variation but exhibited excessive homozygosity among individuals within population. Moderate genetic differentiation was shown among the populations, with highly significant (p < 0.001) fixation indices (F(ST), F(IS) and F(IT)). A low gene flow over all loci (Nm 1.548) indicates little genetic variation transfer between populations. The genetic structures of all the populations were successfully resolved into four main clusters by an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram generated based on Nei’s genetic distances. The population structures based on principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and the Bayesian model also suggested four distinct clusters following geographical regions and eight closely related populations. This study provided a useful baseline reference for better genetic management and utilization of the Tor spp. stocks in their breeding and conservation programmes.