Molecular Phylogeny of King soldier bream (Argyrops spinifer) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Bandar Boushehr, Bandar Abbas , Bandar Chabahar)

King soldier bream is one of the species of family Sparidae, which is commercially and ecologically very important in the Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. The species of this family are morphologically very similar to each other and they may be mistakenly known as another species. Therefore, molecular identification of them has to be considered.

In this study, the phylogenetic relationship of king soldier bream fish based on mitochondrial region(CO1) was investigated using DNA sequencing method. For this purpose, 90 samples were collected from the soft tissue of the caudal fin using Ammonium acetate, and its quantity and quality were determined by Spectrophotometry and Electrophoresis. Optimal DNA samples for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing were examined. After gene amplification and sequencing, Bio Edit version 7.0.1, BLAST, MEGA 7.0.2 and DnaSP 5.10.01 software were used to draw phylogenetic trees.

Based on the phylogenetic tree obtained from the sequences, king soldier bream was divided into two main branches in Bandar Abbas, Bandar Bushehr and Bandar Chabahar areas. All samples of the first branch showed a sister relationship with the second branch and all the samples of branches one and two showed sisterhood with samples KJ012292 and kJ012291 from the Gene Bank in Italy with 82, 67 and 86% accuracy.

The results can provide useful information on the conservation and management programs, for the preservation, revitalization, and resource of the population this valuable species.