Evaluation of genetic diversity in natural populations of Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822) through RAPD markers in major rivers of Punjab, Pakistan

Channa marulius is a valuable food fish, known as “Sol”. In Pakistan, C. marulius plays an important role in meeting the protein requirement of people in their daily diet. Due to overfishing, destruction of habitat, and water pollution, the population of C. marulius is declining rapidly. Therefore, for the conservation of C. marulius, we evaluated its genetic diversity by collecting specimens from five major rivers (Chenab, Indus, Ravi, Jhelum, and Sutlej) of Punjab, Pakistan using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers. 75 specimens of C. marulius were collected from five rivers and evaluated its genetic diversity by using five RAPD DNA markers OPA-02, OPA-05, OPA-07, OPA-11, and OPA-16. Results showed 106 polymorphic bands out of a total of 154 bands and detected five primers associated with genetic diversity. The highest genetic diversity was observed in River Jhelum with 28/35 (80%) polymorphic bands. In others, it is recorded as 26 (78.78%) in Ravi, 20 (74.07%) in Sutlej, 24 (71.44%) in Indus and lowest in River Chenab with 08 (28.58%) polymorphic bands. Nei’s genetic diversity (h) observed in Jhelum (0.782) and Chenab (0.323) reflect high genetic diversity in Jhelum and lowest genetic diversity in Chenab. UPGMA dendrogram showed that the population of C. marulius in Sutlej and Ravi has close genetic connectivity and genetic similarity and similarly the population of C. marulius in Indus and Chenab also has close genetic connectivity and genetic similarity. The present study reports that the lowest genetic diversity in the Chenab River is a matter of serious concern for fisheries resource managers to take immediate steps for C. marulius conservation.