The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic diversity in three GIFT tilapia generations from the Genetic Improvement Program of State University of Maringá, using the RAPD marker. One hundred eighty fin samples were used. The seven primers used produced 91 fragments, of which 98.9% were polymorphic. Differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the frequency of 64 fragments, of which ten were excluded in G2. The results of genetic variability estimated by the Shannon index (G0: 0.430, G1: 0.469 and G2: 0.420) and by the percentage of polymorphic fragments (G0: 90.1%, G1: 94.5% and G2: 86.8%) indicated a high intrapopulation genetic variability, corroborated by the Nei genetic diversity results that showed G1 with the highest values (G0: 0.281, G1: 0.307 and G2: 0.277). A greater genetic distance between the G0 and G1 generations (0.108) and a greater genetic identity between G0 and G2 (0.909) were verified. Intrapopulation genetic diversity was high in the three generations, with highest values in G1.
genetic diversity; Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapias; strains; genetic improvement; Oreochromis niloticus