Microsatellite Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Indian Chicken Populations

Published: August 2, 2021

By: Nasrollah Pirany 1, Michael N. Romanov 2, Suhash P. Ganpule 3, Govindaiah Devegowda 4 and Doddananjappa T. Prasad 5.

Summary

Author details:

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, 29th Bahman Street, Tabriz, East Azarbayejan, Iran; 2 Genetics Division, Conservation and Research for Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027-7000, USA; 3 Pioneer Group, Pongalur, Tamil Nadu, India; 4 Department of Poultry Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India; 5 Department of Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.

Characterization of genetic diversity by employing molecular tools is a prerequisite in developing strategies for conservation and utilization of poultry genetic resources. We assessed genetic variation within and between six Indian chicken populations (Naked Neck, White Silkies, Commercial Layer and Broiler, Giriraja and Desi) using nine microsatellite markers. Seven loci were polymorphic in all populations, with the number of alleles varying from 3 to 27 per locus and 4.1 to 8.6 per population. Average heterozygosity and gene diversity in the populations were 0.68 and 0.66, respectively. Some populations and loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Except Naked Neck, none of other populations was in genotypic disequilibrium for a single pairwise locus combination. F-statistics indicated that populations are genetically structured, ∼85% of the total genetic variation being due to genetic differentiation within the populations. Estimates of Latter’s FST and Nei’s DS genetic distances revealed relatively close genetic similarity between Naked Neck and Giriraja, while White Silkies was the most distant. An estimated divergence time between Naked Neck and Giriraja was over 100 years, with a comparatively longer (over 450 years) period of separation between Giriraja and White Silkies. We suggest that there is an essential room left for genetic improvement of Indian native breeds and commercial stocks.

Key words: chicken, genetic distance, genetic diversity, India, microsatellite markers.

Abstract published in The Journal of Poultry Science, 44: 19-28, 2007.