The molecular systematic of shads (Alosa spp.) in Turkish seas

In this study mitochondrial DNA polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to analyse the phylogenetic relationships among five shad species (Alosa caspia, A. fallax nilotica, Alosa maeotica, Alosa pontica, Alosa tanaica) from Turkish seas. The complete NADH 5/6 gene region of mtDNA amplified by PCR were digested with six restriction enzymes, BsurI, AluI, EheI, Hin6I, RsaI, XhoI respectively. A total of 13 haplotypes were detected from five shad species. The average haplotype diversity and nucleotid diversity within species were 0.6000 and 0.005331 respectively. The average nucleotid diversity and nucleotide divergence among species were 0.008024 and 0.002693 respectively. The highest genetic divergence was observed between A. pontica to A. caspia (0.009599) and lowest, between A. maeotica and A. tanaica (0.000007). Monte Carlo (X2) pairwise found determined significant differences between all species, depending on the mtDNA regions examined (p<0.001). In the UPGMA (Unweighhed Pair Group Method) dendogram, A. tanaica and A. maeotica exhibited closest genetical similarity and A.pontica showed highest genetical differantiation within Alosa genus. Key Words: Turkish seas, Shad species, Mitochondrial DNA, PCR-RFLP, Molecular systematic