Electrophoretic Distinction of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri), West-Slope Cutthroat Trout (S. clarki), and Their Hybrids

Abstract

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), west-slope cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki), and their F₁ hybrids were electrophoretically examined for 13 different proteins. Of the 13 proteins, only phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) proved to be a reliable biochemical marker for the distinction of genetically pure samples of the two species. Only PGI provided an accurate means of identifying F₁ hybrids between the species. This information could possibly be used to facilitate the stabilization and restoration of native populations of west-slope cutthroat trout in western Montana. Key words: rainbow trout, west-slope cutthroat trout, hybridization, electrophoresis, biochemical marker, phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI)