Characterization of microsatellite markers in silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus (Perciformes: Stromateidae) through cross-species amplification and population genetic applications

Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen 1788) is one of the commercially important marine food fish in India, having high value and demand in both domestic and export market. Pomfrets in Indian waters showed a steady decline in catch due to capture of undersized, juvenile fishes. Baseline information on the genetic stock structure is important for conservation and sustainable harvest of this species. Fish stock structure and genetic variation can be evaluated/identified through microsatellite molecular markers. An alternative for finding polymorphic microsatellites is cross-species amplification between genetically closely related species