Analysis of phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax zarudnyi and Schizothorax pelzami using COI sequence

Genus Schizothorax of the family Cyprinidae with 56 species is distributed in mountainous regions from Iran to China and sometimes in lowlands. Three species of the genus have been reported from Iran. Schizothorax zarudnyi (Cyprinidae) is native to Afghanistan and East Iran (Sistan). There are questions on the phylogenetic relationships of this species and other species of Schizothorax. In this study to assess phylogenetic relationship of this species compared to other Schizothorax species and especially to Schizothorax pelzami that is native to Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and North East Iran (Khorasan) the specimens were collected from Chah Nimeh-ha water reserves ni Zabol township (Sistan) using cast net. Pectoral fins of the fish were clipped, fixed in 96% ethanol, and transferred to laboratory for genetic analyzes. For phylogenetic analyzes the 5’ end sequences of Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) were produced. For phylogenetic analyzes a number of Schizothorax sequences were retrieved from GenBank and used along with S. pelzami COI sequence, which was produced formerly. The Neigbouhr-Joining tree was reconstructed with 500 bootstrap replicates and based of K2P genetic distance using MEGA7 software. Luciocypris striolstus and Schizocypris altidorsalis were used as out-groups. A haplotype network was produced using TCS software allowing for a maximum of 30 mutational steps between each pair of haplotypes. All schizothorax spp. used here nested in a highly supported (BS=100) monophyletic group. Opposed to nearly close geographic distance compared to other non-Iranian species, there was no close phylogenetic affinity between S. zarudnyi and S. pelzami. This may indicate their different geographic origin or an old evolutionary background of these two species. Schizothorax zarudnyi did not nest with any other Schizothorax sp. in a supportedgroup.

کلیدواژه ها:

Schizothorax zarudnyi ، Schizothorax pelzami ، Phylogenetics ، COI