Genetic diversity of cultured beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) brood stocks by using microsatellite method

The genetic diversity and population structure of cultured male and female herds of beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) brood stocks were estimated in International Sturgeon Research Institute using four DNA microsatellite loci. All loci were in polymorphic pattern. The number of alleles and observed heterozygosity ranged between 6-37 (mean 18) and 0-0.87 (mean 0.41), respectively. Allelic richness (Na) was acceptable and genetic variation was in moderate decreasing pattern.  For survey of genetic differentiation in individuals, the Fst was estimated at 0.045, indicating a low genetic differentiation among breeders. Samples from male herds in Spl-104 and Ls-19 loci were at Hardy-Weinberg equation and other loci showed a pattern of deviation from equilibrium, which could be as a result of reduced population size and the presence of an inbreeding phenomenon. According to the results obtained from molecular variance analysis, the genetic difference between two populations was 3%. The results of the study indicate that genetic diversity was low in the cultured beluga brood stocks, resulting in the reduction of wild beluga breeders in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea.