Genetic identification of Fenneropenaeus vanamei broodstocks in south of Iran (Hormozgan and Bushehr provinces)

 Penaeus vanamei is one of the most important penaeide shrimp species in Persian Gulf. This research was carried out to determine the genetic status of broodstocks of this species by sequencing the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). Sampling was performed from two hatcheries in hormozgan province (Kolahi and Tiab) and a hatchery in Bushehr province (Delvar). Seven haplotypes were identified from 502 aligned sequences. Phylogeny study showed that all specimens from the three studied hatcheries were in a main clade with two clusters showing highly Homosigisity of Bushehr and Hormozgan hatcheries. On the other hand, three haplotypes BU. A3, A4, A6 derived from Bushehr area were distinguished from the other haplotypes of Bushehr and Hormozgan regions, showing that the heterozygosity rate in the broodstocks of Bushehr area is much higher than Hormozgan area. The haplotypic status of the COI gene indicates high homozygosity levels among imported broodstocks in hormozgan that can lead to increase in the amount of blood coefficient between broodstocks and decrease in growth and survival rate among postlarves in near future.