Genetic identification of oyster species based on restrictionfragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of two molecular markersamplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

摘要

Recently there has been increased emphasis on the aquaculture and possible introduction of non-native oyster species in and around the Chesapeake Bay. At the most fundamental level, research into the wisdom and practicality of such introductions requires a reliable method of species identification. Unfortunately, identification of most oyster species (including those being considered for introduction into the Chesapeake Bay such as C. ariakensis) is still based on largely plastic phenotypic characters, and species are often misidentified. We have developed a genetic key, rooted in a phylogenetic analysis of the genus, that can rapidly and relatively inexpensively distinguish among 10 species of Crassostrea oyster species based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of two PCR-amplified markers: a nuclear ITS region marker and a mitochondrial COI gene marker. Utilization of this key suggests that populations of Asian oysters found throughout China and currently considered to be C. ariakensis are probably two different species, one occurring in South Korea, Japan, and throughout China, whereas the other has only been found in southern China.