DOI: 10.7904/2068–4738–VII(14)–53
Samuel O. OLUFEAGBA, Victor Tosin OKOMODA*
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, NIGERIA
*Corresponding author E–mail: okomodavictor@yahoo.com, Phone No: +2348033319959
Abstract. Reciprocal hybridization of Clarias batrachus and C. gariepinus was carried out to obtain hybrid progenies for the purpose of culture. The viable hybrid was obtained only in the cross between ♂ C. gariepinus × ♀ C. batrachus, while hybrids between ♀ C. gariepinus × ♂ C. batrachus all died few hours after hatching. The viable hybrid was cultured for five months and parentage confirmation attempted by DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the cytochrome b using markers designed from the known sequence of C. batrachus. The only gel electrophoresis band observed in the hybrid was at the same level with that shown in C. batrachus (1000 bp), hence, confirming parentage status of the hybrid (as cytochrome b is only inherited from maternal parent). Amplification at 300 bp was also visible in the pure C. gariepinus suggesting that primer could have been useful in determining parentage of the ♀ C. gariepinus × ♂ C. batrachus hybrid if they had survived.
Keyword: Hybridization; Cytochrome b; African catfish; Asian catfish.