Diversity and genetic origin of introduced channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque, 1818) to central-west Mexico

The channel catfish is an important aquaculture species in Mexico mostly managed in traditional production systems. The state of Tamaulipas has been the source of diverse populations of channel catfish in the country, however there is no documentary evidence of this. Therefore, the objective of this study was to confirm the genetic origin of populations of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) of west central Mexico by microsatellite DNA markers. The study included four domestic populations from Michoacán, Zacatecas and Jalisco and two reference founder populations from Tamaulipas and Coahuila. The analysis was performed with a panel of 13 microsatellites. Some parameters of diversity and population structure were evaluated. The six populations showed excess of heterozygotes and a coefficient endogamy F_IS ≤-0.014. The analysis of gene structure was determined by a paired comparison populations, and indicated the 5.92% of variation among populations (F_ST = 0.059, P < 0.001). The assessment approaches identified the population of Tamaulipas as the most likely genetic origin of channel catfish populations currently used in the evaluated states.