DNA Fingnerprinting of Eight Cyprinid Fish Species of Iraqi Inland Waters Using RAPD-PCR Technique

One hundred and twenty specimens of eight cyprinid fish species included Barbus xanthopterus, B. kersin, B. barbulus, B. grypus, B. sharpeyi, B. luteus, Aspius vorax and Cyprinus carpio were collected from Shatt Al-Arab River in governorate of Basrah Southern of Iraq. The DNA fingerprints were identified using RAPD-PCR technique with seven decamere primers. A total of 223 anonymous scorable bands obtained by RAPD-PCR technique across eight cyprinid species genomes. The average of bands per primer was 32 bands, the size of bands estimated using the linear equation of standard curve plot of standard 100 bp ladder. The RAPD markers were used to obtain the similarity indices that were in high value among Barbus species since it ranged from 84.4% between B. xanthopterus and B. kersin to 52% between B. barbulus and B. sharpeyi. While the B. grypus appeared in high similarity indices value (86.9%) with luciscin A. vorax. While C. carpio exhibit high diversity indices value with the Barbus spp.. Therefore the phylogenetic relationships among the eight studied cyprinid species were clearly resolved in dendrograms, they clustered into three branches: the first one included B. xanthopterus, B. kersin, B, barbulus, while the second included B. sharpeyi and B. luteus and the third branch contained B. grypus and A. vorax. Nevertheless, when A. vorax data discarded, the B. grypus return to cluster with B. sharpeyi and B. luteus. Whereas C. carpio functioned as outgroup in both cases. The conclusion of the present study was: molecular patterns showed by RAPD bands represent specific DNA fingerprints and apparently are suitable tool to distinguish among cyprinids. The results clearly revealed that the eight cyprinid taxa are distinctive species. The studied Barbus species are divided into two groups, the first one included B. xanthopterus, B. kersin and B. barbulus which have European Luciobarbus affinities and the second contained B. grypus, B. sharpeyi and B. luteus which they diverged of Luciobarbus but still related to Barbus. So, the Barbus in Iraq is polyphyletic group.