Microsatellite loci to determine population structure of Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843) in the Khuzestan Province (Iran)

Genetic diversity of Garra rufa was studied using 6 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci. The specimens of G. rufa were collected from the Kheirabad and Maroon rivers. Despite high importance of this species, there is no genetic information about its population structure. A total of 133 alleles were detected at the 6 loci across the two populations. The Kheirabad population exhibited a lower genetic variation (Ho=0.429 and He=0.850) than the Maroon one. The average numbers of observed alleles in the Kheirabad and Maroon populations were 11.8 and 10.3, respectively. The genetic similarity and distance between the two populations were 0.721 and 0.326, respectively. It seems that Maroon population live under better conditions in contrast to the Kheirabad one. Diminution of genetic variation within examined populations decreases its adaptation to environmental alterations. Based on the results of this study, we can identify two different Garra rufa populations in the Khuzestan Province.