Species differentiation of slugs (Mollusca, Pulmonata) by using DNA-fingerprinting techniques (SSR-a PCR; RAPD)

The differentiation of slug species within or between genera using morphological features can be difficult and sometimes inaccurate. So far the methods of dissecting specimen and using the reproductive tract as a characteristic (KERNEY et al. 1983) as well as protein electrophoresis (BACKELJAU et al. 1996) have been described as feasible approaches eo determine slug species. In this contribution the utility of DNA-fingerprinting using either simple sequence repeat anchored polymerase chain reaction (SSR-a PCR) or random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is portrayed. DNA samples for both methods were isolated from fresh somatic slug tissue and several oligonucleotide primers have been used to generate DNA fingerprints. PCR products were resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized by ultraviolet transillumination. In this paper it is shown that both met:hods are suitable molecular tools to distinguish the slug species Arion distinctus, Arion fasciatus and Deroceras reticulatum on the species and the genera level.