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Development and validation of a taqman-based qPCR assay for reliable detection of invasive sailfin catfishes (Pterygoplichthys spp) through measurements of environmental DNA

Chena Desai, V Kartikey, Suman Mallick, Jitendra Sundaray, Ratna Ghosal

Abstract

Sailfin catfishes (Pterygoplichthys spp) are a group of fishes introduced to several freshwater habitats across the globe. Sailfin catfishes are a hard armoured fish with no economic importance as a food species. These catfishes have been reported to be impacting the growth of several economically valuable species that are native to different freshwater ecosystems. In this manuscript, we developed a taqman-based assay targeting the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit-1 (COX1) gene, to specifically detect the presence of catfishes via eDNA measurements. The developed assay was screened against 16 species of fish and mussel that co-occur in the habitats along with sailfin catfishes, and the qPCR reaction did not have any non-target amplifications. The assay was further validated under laboratory conditions by measuring eDNA from tanks having different biomass of catfishes (1 and 0.5g/L), and the copy number of the amplified product was directly proportional to the biomass maintained in the tanks. Overall, the study provides a robust molecular tool based on eDNA measurements to facilitate detection of invasive sailfin catfishes and in turn, contribute towards the management of the invaded habitats.

MF24023  Accepted 16 April 2024

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