Abstract
Five (GT./CA)n microsatellite loci were isolated from a size-selected genomic library of red sea bream (Paqrus major). Primers for PCR amplification were constructed for the microsatellite loci and the loci characterized by screening polymorphisms in three wild populations of the red sea bream. All loci displayed a high degree of length polymorphism, as observed in the total number of alleles per locus (16-32), and a high degree of heterozygosity ranging from 0.675-0.907. Distinct differences were observed among three wild populations of red sea bream collected from coastal waters of Japan, both in the average number of alleles per locus and the frequency distributions of the alleles.
The primers developed for red sea bream were also tested for their ability to amplify homologous sequences from 5 closely related species of Sparidae.
These microsatellite loci show great potential as indicators for genetic variability and divergence among subpopulations of Pagrus major, and to a lesser degree with some of the related species tested.
