PCR-RFLP for the identification of eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Methods for authenticating fresh eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were developed in this work using polym erase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cyto chrome oxidase subunit II (COII) genes, followed by restriction fragment le ngth polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of amplified DNA fragments. Species-speci fic identification of fresh eggs was achieved by PCR-RFLP analysis of the C OII gene using endonucleases Nci I and Sau 3AI and also by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene using the restriction endonucleases Hpa I and Bst Ell. This m ethodology could be used as a simple and reliable procedure for detection o f mislabelled commercial products.