RESTRICTION ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL GEN OME IN SALMONID FISHES OF THE FAMILY SALMONIDAE

Based on comparative restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA, geneti c divergence between 11 species belonging to four genera of the family Salmonidae was estimated. About 2% of the mitochondrial genome (304 n p) was examined using 16 restrictases that recognize 6-nucleotide site s. Nucleotide difference estimates ranged from 0 - 5.17 +/- 1.07% in c hars of the genus Salvelinus to 2.05 +/- 0.71% - 8.64 +/- 1.14% in the Pacific salmon species of the genus Oncorhynchus. The greatest diverg ence was found between the genera Oncorhynchus and Parahucho (9.42 +/- 1.31% - 13.08 +/- 1.24%), and between Oncorhynchus and Salvelinus (12 .50 +/- 1.00%). The divergence between the Pacific salmon and trout sp ecies was equal to 8.17 +/- 1.17. The generic status of Parahucho and Parasalmo is confirmed.