Analysis of the Microsatellite Variation in the Common Hybrid Between Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii Brandt and Ratzeburg, 1833) and Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser Baerii Brandt, 1869) from Aquaculture

Sturgeons such as Acipenser baerii and Acipenser gueldenstaedtii are the most common species farm raised worldwide in aquaculture, because of the dwindling natural sources of caviar and meat. Also, these species can easily participate in the formation of an intraspecific hybrid with a great potential for growth in aquaculture.

Microsatellites are nuclear markers consisting of short repetitive sequence, dispersed across the entire genome with characteristics such as relatively small size and high level of polymorphism. The aims of the present study were to optimize a protocol for microsatellite multiplexing and analysis of genetic diversity in hybrid sturgeons farmed in Romania.

Genomic DNA was isolated from fins, and four pairs of primers were designed to amplify microsatellite loci: LS 19, LS 68, Aox 9, and Aox 45. Amplification of the microsatellite loci was carried out in one 3-Plex reaction for LS 19, LS 68, and Aox 9, and monoplex reaction for Aox 45. For an individual locus we obtained four alleles for Aox 45, eleven alleles for Aox 9, six alleles for LS 68, and eight alleles for LS 19. The results will be applied to test the broodstocks at Romanian hatcheries and to increase the efficiency of breeding.