Genetic Relationship and Diversity of in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta Using Cytochrome b Gene Sequences.

Square-tailed mullet () is a monotypic species of the genus ; however, due to morphological similarities between mullet species, determining their genetic relationship and diversity provides valuable information for classification. The genetic diversity of the square-tailed mullet collected at four Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) sites was examined by sequencing gene sequences. Five haplotypes were recorded from 12 gene sequences of 792-843 bp long, including 786 invariant (monomorphic) positions and six polymorphic positions. The square-tailed mullet had a high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.79) and low nucleotide diversity ( = 0.004). Low intraspecific genetic difference was recorded in collected in sampling sites (0.3%-0.5%). Phylogeny analysis indicated that all square-tailed mullets belonged to one provisional lineage and were separated from the control square-tailed mullet lineage. More studies on the lineage of in VMD are necessary, thereby providing scientists with information about the genetic diversity of this species in the Mekong Delta.