Genetic identification and classification of Iranian Artemia using microsatellite markers

In this study genetic variation of Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana populations were assessed using five microsatellite markers including Af-B105TAIL, Af-A136, Apdq03TAIL, Apdq04TAIL and Apdq05TAIL from Artemia franciscana and Artemia parthenogenetica. DNA was extracted from 50 cysts of Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana populations individually by Hot Shot method. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were successfully conducted with all primers and then the PCR products were electrophoresed using 6% none denaturing gel and stained using silver nitrate method. Hence, all alleles were polymorphic. Average number of alleles and polymorphic information content (PIC) for Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana populations were 3.0, 0.54 and 2.5, 0.38, respectively. All loci in Artemia urmiana were in HWE but only the Af-A136 locus in Artemia franciscana was in HWE. The average expected heterozygosity for Artemia franciscana and Artemia urmiana were estimated as 0.6209 and 0.4531, respectively. The phylogeny dendrogram based on the Distance Matrix was drawn using UPGMA for within populations. Our findings demonstrated that microsatellite markers could be an appropriate tool for screening biodiversity in animals. Therefore, extinction of these invaluable genetic resources can be preserved using accurate breeding and management programs.