GENETIC DIVERSITY AND REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF CORBICULA FLUMINEA FROM THE LAODAO RIVER IN LIUYANG CITY

This study attempted to theoretically support and comprehensively perceive genetic diversity and reproduction of Corbicula fluminea from the Laodao River in Liuyang city was investigated. Partial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COⅠ) of mitochondrial genes were utilized to evaluate the genetic diversity, and reproductive characteristics were observed by gonadal histology and sperm morphology using light microscopy. Among examined 40 individuals, only 4 haplotypes and 17 variable sites were detected in the partial sequences of the COⅠ, with an average haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity, and number of variable sites equal to 0.664±0.042, 0.014±0.006, and 8.595, respectively. Hermaphrodite was a predominant reproduction in the population studied, and the hybrid hermaphrodite-sex ratio was 6﹕3﹕1. Furthermore, there were two types of reproductive follicles in hermaphroditic individuals, including sperm and egg cells in the same and in different follicular cells. The observation of sperm morphology revealed that biflagellate spermatozoa were discovered in both hermaphrodite (n=23) and male (n=8) cases. The results also showed that Corbicula fluminea samples from the Laodao River of Liuyang city contained a relatively low genetic diversity, but with multiple reproduction modes, and the predominant mode was androgenesis. This study attempted to present significant biological reproduction information required for Corbicula fluminea protection in China.