Investigation of the inbreed genetic variability of the Altai mirror carp by a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I mtDNA gene

This study investigates the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Altai mirror carp population farmed at the “EKO-PARK” facility in the Moskovsky District of Novosibirsk Region. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene revealed limited genetic diversity and low differentiation within the stock, which is likely due to the use of a restricted number of broodstock individuals and prolonged breeding in a closed population. Despite the low variability, the presence of several haplotypes was detected, indicating the introduction of genetic material from diff erent breeding lines during the population’s formation stage. Four haplotypes (H1, H2, H4, and H5) were identified, with H1 being dominant, occurring in 82% of the sampled individuals. Phylogenetic analysis using 64 sequences from the NCBI database demonstrated that the Altai mirror carp forms a distinct, well-supported clade within Cyprinus carpio. This clade shows close affi nity with Asian carp breeds and the German mirror carp, suggesting shared genetic origins and the possible use of similar breeding sources. A median-joining haplotype network confirmed the central position of haplotype H1 for the Altai population, whereas most other breeds cluster around H5. This distribution refl ects diff erences in evolutionary centers and the absence of direct hybridization between the analyzed breeds. The findings are signifi cant for assessing the genetic status of the Altai mirror carp and developing strategies for its selective improvement.