Application of DNA-based Techniques for Intraspecies Differentiation of Hake Fish

Abstract

Fish species identification is important as the interest of consumers in sea-fish meat is increasing. The aim of this study was to determine hake species distribution on the Czech market by the PCR-RFLP and sequencing of mt cyt b, and to develop and optimise an alternative system for determination of hake species by sequencing and/or PCR-RFLP using Pan I sequence. Among 20 samples of hake obtained on the Czech market three species were identified: North Pacific hake (Merluccius productus), Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) and South Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi). The approaches tested in our study represent a significant tool either for the differentiation of hake species from other gadoid species (PCR) or for intraspecies identification of different hake species (PCR-RFLP, sequencing). This knowledge can be applied in detection of fish species substitution within the consumers' rights protection.

A Practical Approach to Identifying Processed White Meat of Guinea Fowl, Rabbit, and Selected Fish Species Using End-Point PCR

“…The microarray was tested on fresh, frozen, smoked, and marinated, but no thermally processed samples. The PCR-RFLP and sequencing of mt cyt b were developed for intraspecies differentiation of hake samples on the Czech market, but the results were not always conclusive [62]. In another study, fish dishes sold in commercial restaurants and sushi bars in Brussels were collected for mislabelling detection using DNA barcoding and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene [63].…”