Genetic diversity and genetic structure of farmed and wild Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) populations from three major basins by mitochondrial DNA COI and Cyt b gene sequences

Abstract

The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, is one of the important native crab species in East Asian region, which has been widely cultured throughout China, particularly in river basins of Yangtze, Huanghe and Liaohe. This study was designed to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of cultured and wild E. sinensis populations from the three river basins based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b). The results showed that there were 62 variable sites and 30 parsimony informative sites in the 647 bp of sequenced mtDNA COI from 335 samples. Similarly, a 637 bp segment of Cyt b provided 59 variable sites and 26 parsimony informative sites. AMOVA showed that the levels of genetic differentiation were low among six populations. Although the haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of Huanghe wild population had slightly higher than the other populations, there were no significant differences. There was no significant differentiation between the genetic and geographic distance of the six populations, and haplotype network diagram indicated that there may exist genetic hybrids of E. sinensis from different river basins. The results of clustering and neutrality tests revealed that the distance of geographical locations were not completely related to their genetic distance values for the six populations. In conclusion, these results have great significance for the evaluation and exploitation of germplasm resources of E. sinensis.

KEYWORD:

• Chinese mitten crab
• genetic diversity
• genetic structure
• COI
• Cyt b

Acknowledgements

The authors would especially like to thank all the laboratory members for their technical assistances and beneficial discussions.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the extension project [grant number 2015-1-7] from Shanghai Agriculture Committee and the R & D Project [grant number CK2015-21] from Science & Technology Committee of Chongming County, and the Innovation Fund for Small and Medium-sized Technology-based Firms [grant number 14C26213201214] from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Special Fund for Scientific Research in the Public Welfare of Agricultural Industry [grant number 201203081]. Infrastructure costs were supported by the Shanghai Universities Top Disciplines Project [grant number 2015-62-0908] of Fisheries from Shanghai Municipal Education Committee, and the Capacity Promotion Projects [grant numbers 16DZ2281200, 13DZ2280500] of Shanghai Engineering and Technology Center from Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission.