Genetic Variability Assay of Different Strains of Catla catla

Genetic variation is a key component for improving a stock through selective breeding programs. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker was used to assay genetic variation in two river populations (Halda and Padma) as well as in three hatchery populations of the commercially important Indian major carp, C. catla. Five specimens of each population were collected from each location. Genomic DNA was isolated from the muscle tissue. Five primers were used and in total, 117 bands were obtained of which 51.57% bands were polymorphic. Overall proportions of polymorphism obtained from different populations were found to be 75%, 62%, 50%, 37.5% and 33.33% for BoluharBaor hatchery, Halda and Padma River, Kapotakkha hatchery, and Ma-Fatema hatchery respectively. The highest percentage of intrapopulation genetic similarity was found to be 61.81% in case of Baluhar Baor hatchery and the lowest was found to be 25.63% in case of Kapathakha hatchery. The highest percentage of interpopulation genetic similarity was found to be 85.21% between Kapathakha and Ma-Fatema hatchery population; and the lowest was found to be 46.00% in case of Kapathakha and BaluharBaor hatchery population. The dendrogram on Average Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmatic Mean (UPGMA) showed two clusters, the Halda River and BaluharBaor hatchery population forming one cluster and the other populations the second cluster. Genetic variation obtained in different population of C.catla in the present study is highly satisfactory and indicates that the species can be very easily employed for exploitation for genetic improvement through selection.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/10.3126/ijls.v9i1.11924 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.9(1) 2015 37-42