A new set of primers for COI amplification from purpleback flying squid (Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis)

Abstract

Despite the contribution of DNA barcoding towards understanding the biodiversity and distribution of species, the success of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) amplification has been quite variable when it comes to Cephalopoda. Some species in this class such as Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis seem to be more difficult to amplify COI than others due to failed amplifications with universal primer and lack of specific set of primers. In this study, we developed new Sthenoteuthis – specific primer set, which significantly increased average amplification success. The new primer set will aid the recovery of barcodes from this difficult group and facilitate further studies in phylogeny and cryptic diversity of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis.

Keywords:

• COI
• new primer set
• Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis
• DNA barcodes

Disclosure statement

None of the co-authors has any conflict of interest to declare. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

Support was obtained from the grants of NSFC (31400344 and 41406188), Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (2013BAD13B06 and SQ2016FY491000605), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China (2014A020217011).