HAPLOTYPE DISTRIBUTION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA CYTOCHROME OXIDAE I GENE OF RED SPOTTED GROUPER Epinephelus akaara IN EAST ASIA

The genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship were investigated in Korean red spotted grouper populations using the nucleotide sequence polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The COI gene was sequenced and compared with those previously reported. The obtained COI sequences showed 99.1-99.8% identities with the EF607565 previously reported. A total of twenty haplotypes were found, and the Korean population showed nineteen haplotypes. Among those, Hap_03 and Hap_08 showed Jeju-do and China-specific COI sequences, respectively. However, Hap_07 had twelve COI sequences from South Korea and the records from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The neighbor-joining (NJ) trees constructed from the phylogenetic analyses based on the polymorphisms of the COI haplotypes showed the monophyletic branching pattern within the genus Epinephelus, indicating that the red spotted grouper populations had evolved from common maternal ancestors. In addition, the Hap_08, which had the COI sequence recorded only from China Sea, has been found in the middle of the NJ tree nearby Hap_07 and showed a close relationship to that of Hap_07. Consequently, East Asian red spotted grouper populations are maternally related, as well as sharing the same evolutionary history, and still affected by the East Asian ocean current (Kuroshio).

In order to look for maternal relationship among the Red-spotted grouper populations in East Asia, haplotype of COI gene sequences of the mitochondrial DNA were determined and compared among the populations.

The results from the haplotype analysis for COI gene sequences showed twenty haplotypes, among those several haplotypes were predominant and shared together in most populations. Korean Red spotted grouper is also maternally related to other populations in East Asia. However, some of those showed location-specific patterns. The phylogenetic tree was also estimated the maternal relationship among the populations of Red-spotted grouper in East Asia.

This study helps to understand the genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship of red spotted grouper and also contributes to the significant role in research on artificial breeding and industrialization.