Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Chokla Sheep Breed of Rajasthan Using Microsatellite Markers

Kritika Gahlot; Mukul Purva; Sunil Maherchandani; Sudhir Kumar Kashyap

Authors

Kritika Gahlot Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001, Rajasthan, India
Mukul Purva Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001, Rajasthan, India
Sunil Maherchandani Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001, Rajasthan, India
Sudhir Kumar Kashyap Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner-334001, Rajasthan, India

Keywords:

Chokla, Genetic Diversity, Heterozygosity, Inbreeding Coefficient, PIC, Microsatellite Markers

Abstract

Genetic diversity of Chokla sheep breed was investigated using 18 microsatellite markers suggested by FAO. Total of 150 alleles were detected across 18 microsatellite loci. The highly polymorphic locus was OarFCB48 with 13 alleles and the lowest number of allele was found in FCB128. All the loci were found highly polymorphic with 94% polymorphism in studied population, where mean polymorphic information content value was 0.751, indicating utility of these markers for genome mapping as well as population assignment. Various diversity estimates, mean observed heterozygosity (0.576), mean number of alleles (8.3), effective number of alleles (5.2) and gene diversity (0.783) showed significant within-breed diversity in studied population. However, positive F_is value (0.256) indicated considerable level of inbreeding in investigated sheep population. This study is important to understand the genetic diversity of studied population in present scenario for adjudication of demanded breeding programs as well as for creating useful conservation strategies.