PRELIMINARY GENETICS ASSESSMENT OF OYSTER CRASSOSTREA SPP FROM NORTHERN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
Syamim Balqis Shamsul Bahari (a), Rabi Atun Adawiah Abdullah (a), Mohamad Akib Baharom (b), Nik Muhammad Firdhaus (b), Norainy Mohd Husin (a*)

a) Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
*norainyhusin[at]umt.edu.my
b) Lot 664 & 665, Tanjung Kuala, Kampung Pulau Gajah, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Abstract

Crassostrea oyster is one of the well-known oyster in Malaysia. There are various kind of oysters that can be found in Malaysia and among them are Crassostrea iredalei, Crassostrea belcheri, Saccostrea cucullata, Ostrea folium, and Hyotissa hyotis. The high demand of Crassostrea oyster for commercial purposes is the main reason for establishment of its aquaculture and this will reduce the threat to its natural populations. This study used the sample of Crassostrea oyster from Kelantan and Kedah, Malaysia. The objective of the study is to identify the exact Crassostrea species that can be found in Kelantan and Kedah by using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The study also identifies and compare the population genetics of Crassostrea from the two locations. The BLAST results showed that the sample from Kelantan are Crassostrea iredalei and Crassostrea belcheri while from Kedah are Crassostrea iredalei and Crassostrea saidii. The results showed low to moderate nucleotide diversity (0.0006-0.007) and moderate to high haplotype diversity (0.4-0.9). The phylogenetic neighbour-joining tree analysis shows better understanding between species and populations. The results of this study have significant potentials for Malaysia aquaculture industry, population control and monitoring as well as wild oyster species protection in the future.

Keywords: Crassostrea sp., Population genetics, CO1, Phylogenetic tree, Aquaculture

Topic: Marine and Fisheries Biotechnology