A simple molecular technique for distinguishing species reveals frequent misidentification of Hawaiian corals in the genus Pocillopora.

ABSTRACT: Species within the scleractinian genus Pocillopora Lamarck 1816 exhibit extreme phenotypic plasticity, making identification based on morphology difficult. However, the mitochondrial open reading frame (mtORF) marker provides a useful genetic tool for identification of most species in this genus, with a notable exception of P. eydouxi and P. meandrina. Based on recent genomic work, we present a quick and simple, gel-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method for the identification of all six Pocillopora species occurring in Hawai'i by amplifying either the mtORF region, a newly discovered histone region, or both, and then using the restriction enzymes targeting diagnostic sequences we unambiguously identify each species. Using this appro

SUBMITTER: Johnston EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5807929 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature