Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) revealed differentiation among populations of Atule mate in the coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman (Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar)

This study investigated the genetic structure of the yellowtail scad (Atule mate) population based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene sequences by collecting 90 specimens of Atule mate from Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar in Iran. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted using ammonium acetate method. The PCR reaction was performed using a primer pair of the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene and its PCR products were sequenced. Out of the 13 haplotypes identified through evaluating the sequences, one haplotype was common within the sampling areas. The mean haplotype diversity was high (0.762±0.044) and the mean nucleotide diversity was low (0.003±0.0003). The longest genetic distance of 0.243 (P0.05) between the samples collected from Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The mean values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs were respectively calculated as −0.232 and 0.485 (P>0.05). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a high intra-population genetic diversity and a low inter-population diversity, which suggested a high gene flow among the study areas. The present findings suggested, probably the population of yellowtail scad in Chabahar constitutes a independent gene pool of other regions, and despite the unity of the populations of Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, their molecular diversity is acceptable. These results can help genetically manage Atule mate populations in the study areas and manage stocks and monitor genetic variations in this species.