Molecular Identification of Charru mussel from Ennore Creek, Southern India, Using COI DNA Barcoding

Abstract:   Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843), commonly known as the Charru mussel, is an ecologically significant invasive bivalve inhabiting tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems. This study aimed to confirm the molecular identity and provide preliminary genetic characterization of M. strigata from Ennore Creek, Tamil Nadu, using mitochondrial DNA barcoding. DNA barcoding was performed using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and COI sequences obtained from six individual specimens, representing the initial molecular dataset of an ongoing study, were aligned and analysed using MEGA 12. Reference sequences retrieved from the NCBI GenBank database were also incorporated for comparative analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction. The obtained sequences showed high similarity to M. strigata reference sequences, and the Ennore Creek specimens clustered with M. strigata sequences in the phylogenetic tree, supporting their species-level identification. The findings contribute additional COI sequence data for M. strigata and demonstrate the utility of mitochondrial DNA barcoding for molecular identification of estuarine molluscs. The results are considered a preliminary examination and understanding of the Charru mussel at Ennore creek, Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, investigations need to carrry out inter-specific and intra-specific population variations studies to understand the population-level genetic variation. Currently, this study provides baseline molecular information related to biodiversity studies of invasive alien mussel species, such as M. strigata, along the southeastern coast of India.