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