Polymorphism of microsatellite loci - a tool in studying biodiversity of paddlefish aquaculture broodstock

American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a new species in Polish aquaculture, its broodstocks are few and small, and it is possible that all mature fish originated from only a few spawners. Studies on polymorphism of highly variable microsatellite DNA allow revealing genetic characteristics of individual spawners as well as estimation of genetic variation within and divergence between broodstocks. This paper describes optimised protocols for isolation of DNA from fin tissues, amplification of nine microsatellite loci using PCR technique, and for fish genotyping using automatic capillary DNA sequencer. Our technique was tested towards the fin samples taken from all paddlefish reared in Poland and approaching their sexual maturity; the study included also samples taken from 47 fish of the Ukrainian breeding center (Gorny Tykich).