Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and cross-species amplification in the blue mackerel (S. australasicus).

In this study, 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed in Scomber japonicus and were examined on 30 individuals collected from the North Pacific. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 17. The observed and expected heterozygosities per locus ranged from 0.2759 to 0.8621 and from 0.43071 to 0.9177, respectively. The polymorphism information content (PIC) was from 0.3931 to 0.8939. One locus showed moderate polymorphism (0.25 < PIC < 0.5), while the rest were highly polymorphic (PIC > 0.5). Two loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni corrections (P < 0.005). No linkage disequilibrium was detected among the loci. Results of cross-species amplification showed that 10 microsatellite markers were successfully amplified in 29 individuals of S. australasicus and 9 indicated polymorphisms. These markers will be useful for investigating the genetic structure, gene flow, and species identification of S. japonicus and S. australasicus, its closely related species.