Studies on genetic variability of groupers (Epinephelus spp.) from Indo-Malaysian waters using PCR-RAPD analysis

Abstract

The serranid subfamily {Epinephelus genus), popularly known as grouper, is one of the most economically important fishes in Southeast Asian countries. In this study, RAPD in association with PCR was employed to determine the genetic variability and to establish the RAPD fingerprinting of groupers {Epinephelus spp.). A total of 100 individuals of E. tauvina from six populations taken from Indo-Malaysian waters and 36 individuals of E. merra and E. areolatus taken from Makassar Strait, South Sulawesi were studied. Three tissue preservatives and four DNA extraction techniques were employed to find the best preservative and DNA extraction technique for grouper. A series of optimization experiments of PCR-RAPD protocol were conducted. Out of the 34 screened random primers, ten primers were selected for further analysis.