Molecular identification of dolphinfish species (genus Coryphaena) using multiplex haplotype-specific PCR of mitochondrial DNA

摘要

A rapid and reliable method of dolphinfish species identification was designed based on PCR amplification of diagnostic DNA fragments from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. It consisted in a tetraplex reaction producing a positive control amplicon and species-specific fragments in Coryphaena hippurus and C. equiselis. It was successfully tested in specimens of known identity and in nominal C. hippurus samples among which two C. equiselis were discovered. This approach has significant advantages over other molecular species identification methods and may help in determining species composition of mixed catches, and in forensic and food control applications of dolphinfish specimens or products.