Genetic distances of three venerid species identified by PCR analysis

The seven selected primers BION-13, BION-29, BION-61, BION-64, BION-68, BION-72 and BION-80 generated the total number of loci, average number of loci per lane and specific loci in Meretrix lusoria (ML), Saxidomus purpuratus (SP) and Cyclina sinensis (CS) species. Here, the complexity of the banding patterns varied dramatically between the primers from the three venerid clam species. The higher fragment sizes (> 1,000 bp) are much more observed in the SP species. The primer BION-68 generated 21 unique loci to each species, which were ascertaining each species, approximately 150 bp, 300 bp and 450 bp, in the ML species. Remarkably, the primer BION-80 detected 7 shared loci by the three clam species, major and/or minor fragments of sizes 500 bp, which were matching in all samples. As regards average bandsharing value (BS) results, individuals from CS clam species (0.754) exhibited higher bandsharing values than did individuals from SP clam species (0.607) (P < 0.05). In this study, the dendrogram obtained by the seven oligonucleotides primers indicates three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (LUSORIA01-LUSORIA07), cluster 2 (PURPURATUS08-PURPURATUS14), cluster 3 (SINENSIS15-SINENSIS21). Among the twenty one venerid clams, the shortest genetic distance that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals 18 and 20 from the CS species (genetic distance = 0.071), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty-one individuals that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals LUSORIA no. 02 and PURPURATUS no. 09 (genetic distance = 0.778). Relatively, individuals of SP venerid species were appropriately closely related to that of CS species, as shown in the hierarchical dendrogram of genetic distances. Eventually, PCR fragments exposed in the present study may be worthwhile as a DNA marker the three venerid clam species to discriminate.