Genetic characterization of broodstock brown trout from Bled fish-farm, Slovenia

Background and Purpose: Due to environmental and economic concerns, Bled fish-farm is interested in establishing broodstocks of native brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). Progeny would be reared and released into rivers managed by the Fishing Club Bled. In this study was performed genetic characterization of broodstock from Bled fish-farm in order to assess hybridization of native brown trout of Danubian phylogeographic lineage with trout of the allochtonous Atlantic lineage. Material and Methods: DNA was isolated from fin clips of 20 males and 20 females from broodstock. PCR-RFLP technique was used for distinguishing between Atlantic and Danubian lineages on the basis of control region of the mitochondrial DNA (CR mtDNA) and lactate dehydrogenase gene (LDH). Results: Results show a high percentage of allochthonous genetic markers especially among females and confirm hybridization between native and introduced brown trout. Conclusions: Because of low percentage of native trout markers, Bled fish-farm decided to continue with collecting and genotyping fish to establish a broodstock with higher percentage of genetic markers characteristic for native trout of Danubian lineage.