The genome of the mtDNA is 15–20 kb and encodes 13 polypeptides, two ribosomal RNAs and several
tRNAs (Powell et al., 1986). The fact that mtDNA represents maternal
haploid and accumulates nucleotide substitutions 5–10 times more
rapidly than nuclear DNAmakes it suitable for examining population and
subpopulation structures among related taxa (Hoelzel, 1991).