Advances on the genetic analysis of hybridization in the Yaqui catfish, Ictalurus pricei (Rutter, 1896) using mitochondrial & nuclear genes

Authors: Alexsandre Gutierrez-Barragan, Alejandro Varela-Romero, Francisco León, Mariana Mateos, Carlos Ballesteros-Córdova, José Grijalva-Chon, John Garza

Year: 2022

Abstract

The Yaqui catfish Ictalurus pricei is an endangered species native to northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States, mainly due to hybridization with the exotic channel catfish I. punctatus. In the present work, we are analyzing the mitochondrial Cytb and COXI and the nuclear RAG1 and RAG2 genes for initial detection of hybridization with channel catfish in the Yaqui and Fuerte rivers. Hybridization has been detected in Arroyo Cajón Bonito and Río Tutuaca, in the Río Yaqui basin, and in Río Batopilas, in the Río Fuerte basin. Furthermore, possible genetic introgression was identified in the Río Tutuaca, indicating that the hybrids are fertile and interbreed with the parent species, which poses a greater threat to the integrity of the Yaqui catfish. Additionally, mitochondrial and nuclear genes of Ictalurus catfish from the Culiacán, Elota, Tunal and Conchos rivers were analyzed, but no evidence of hybridization was obtained. On the other hand, the analysis of whole genomes has begun to detect possible genetic introgression in samples of Yaqui catfish from the Arroyo Cajón Bonito, with the aim of creating a genetically pure reproductive stock.