Feasibility analysis of sex determination of caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius, Kessler, 1877) using AFLP markers

caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius) is an anadromous and endemic subspecies of the Brown trout in the Caspian Sea. In recent years, there has been a tremendous decline in its population, which has exposed it to extinction. Sex determination of Salmonids, particularly from economic viewpoint, aiming to produce all-female populations which mature at older ages compared to males, has high importance in aquaculture. In this study, caudal fin clips from 10 female and 10 male specimens were analyzed with AFLP method using 96 different EcoRI/MseI primer combinations to determine sex-linked markers. Among primer combinations used in this study, 15 combinations produced different bands between males and females. However, after analyzing more specimens it was obvious that the detected bands were not sex specific and might be the result of the genetic diversity existing among individuals. The present study can be a good start in sex determination studies of Caspian trout; finally, the use of more primer combinations is suggested to find sex determination markers in Caspian trout.