USE OF COI GENE FOR MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF ACETES INDICUS FROM MUMBAI COAST, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Abstract

Crustaceans are one of the most studied metazoan group of marine invertebrates because of their immense morphological diversity. Members of family Sergestidae from Infraorder Penaeidea are small sized shrimps and considered under nonpenaeid category. It is difficult to identify them by classical methods and need taxonomical expertise for morphological identification. The purpose of this study is to provide alternative for morphological identification using molecular approach. DNA Barcoding molecular technique supports the classical taxonomy by producing Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene barcode. DNA barcoding of A. indicus was carried out and its genetic population was studied. This technique was further used to study molecular phylogenetic evolution of family Sergestidae. The study shows that Acetes indicus found in Indian waters fishing area 51 and fishing area 71 belong to the same genetic population with respect to COI gene. A. indicus is closely related to A. serrulatus as compared to other family members of Sergestidae.