Genetic Diversity and Albumin Content of Striped Snakehead Channa striata in Indonesia: A Study on Farmed and Wild Fish from Five Main Islands

Genetic characterisation and key traits of species are crucial in determining the direction of aquaculture development. The genetic diversity of the striped snakehead (Channa striata) across five main islands in Indonesia, both from aquaculture and wild populations, was explored through its partial mtDNA COI. Subsequently, this study examined the albumin content extracted from the meat and comprehensively aligned it with the variation in its genotype. Phylogenetic studies showed the Sumatran snakehead fish sample forms its own cluster and has a large genetic distance from other samples. Interestingly, the albumin content in the Sumatra samples was significantly higher (1.907 %) than in others (1.253-1.509 %). Further analysis of albumin content from the Borneo samples from the same taxa in the phylogenetic tree showed no significant difference between farmed and wild C. striata. The findings of this study are fundamental for initiating a selective breeding programme and developing conservation management.