Identification of alfonsino and related fish species belonging to the genus Beryx with mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and its application on their pelagic eggs

Abstract

The mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using total DNA as a template from muscle tissues of alfonsino and related fish species of alfonsino belonging to the genus Beryx, B. splendens, B. mollis and B. decadactylus. While the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene consisted of 492 nucleotides irrespective of the three species, three, nine and eight interspecific variations were shown between B. splendens and B. mollis, between B. splendens and B. decadactylus, and between B. mollis and B. decadactylus, respectively. The pelagic eggs, which were collected off Izu Islands and showed morphological characteristics typical to the genus Beryx were all identified as those of B. splendens from the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene.