DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetics of Freshwater Ornamental Fish Using Mitochondrial COI Gene

The purpose of this study was to identify and conserve local fish that have the potential to be ornamental fish. The total sample was 16 fish. Methods employed were DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and COI gene sequencing. The DNA sequences generated were compared with the sequences from NCBI using the MEGA 7 and BLASTn programs. The results showed that the size of the COI gene produced was 615 bp to 699 bp. As many as twelve species were identified to have the potential to be ornamental fish, namely Rasbora lateristriata , Barbodes binotatus , Xiphophorus helleri , Sicyopterus microcephalus , Puntigrus tetrazona , Moenkhausia santaefilomenae , Hyphessobrycon eques , Poecilia reticulata , Poecilia latipinna , Xiphophorus maculatus , Pethia conchonius , Poecilia orri . These results showed that the local Balinese fish tested had a 70-99% similarity. DNA barcoding and molecular identification can be used for the genetic conservation to prevent local fish populations from becoming extinct.