Study of mtDNA vatriation of Russian sturgeon population from the south Caspian Sea using RFLP analysis of PCR amplified ND5/6 gene regions

PCR-based mtDNA analysis (RFLP) was used for the study of population differentiation in the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedti). The mtDNA ND5/6 gene regions were amplified using PCR techniques followed by RFLP analysis. 39 different composite haplotypes were detected among 62 specimens. 29 haplotypes were rare occuring only once in two regions (west and east areas of the Southern Caspian Sea). The average nucleotide and haplotype diversity within populations were estimated to be 0.028727 0.00 and 0.9645 00042 respectively and divergence between populations to be 0.052%. A highly significant differences were observed in the distribution of haplotypes between the west and east areas.