Genetic Identification of Hatchery Stocks of Brown Trout Using Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphism

Abstract

Molecular genetics techniques provide an accurate and cost-effective way to identify hatchery strains and to measure genetic variation in fish populations. In this study, we sought to identify genetic differences at the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) level in two of the three hatchery strains of Michigan brown trout Salmo trutta by using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of segments of mtDNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction. We show that the RFLP approach can provide valuable information about the genetic composition of Michigan brown trout strains and a method of population analysis that can be used to enhance short- and long-term fisheries management studies.