Genetic Variability of Small Horse Populations from Greek Islands

Authors : Myrına EMİLİO KATSOULAKOU, Dimitris PAPACHRİSTOU, Nikolaos KOSTARAS, George LALİOTİS, Iosif BİZELİS, Ernest Gus COTHRAN, Rytis JURAS, Panagiota KOUTSOULİ

Pages : 117-125

Doi:10.47115/bsagriculture.1165045

View : 16 | Download : 14

Publication Date : 2023-03-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, we analyzed microsatellite variation in DNA obtained from hair samples collected from 46 local Greek horse populations originating from the islands of Skyros insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Skyros Small Horse; n=9);, Rhodes insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse; n=6);, Lesvos insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(with the traditional miniature Midili Small Horse insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=2); and the larger Lesvos Gaiter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=22);); and Crete insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Messara); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=7);. We used 15 autosomal microsatellite markers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(VHL20, HTG4, AHT4, HMS7, HTG6, AHT5, HMS6, ASB2, HTG10, HTG7, HMS3, HMS2, ASB17, ASB23 and LEX33); for the genetic characterization of the above populations and exploration of their genetic structure and diversity levels. A total of 120 alleles were detected across the 15 loci with a minimum of 4 alleles in HTG7 locus and a maximum of 13 alleles in ASB17 locus. Τhe total per population number of alleles was 42 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Skyros Small Horse);, 20 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse);, 71 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Lesvos Gaiter);, 52 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Messara breed); and 21 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Midili Small Horse);. The effective number of alleles insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ne); per locus ranged from 1.47±0.13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse); to 4.67±0.31 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Lesvos Gaiter);. The allelic richness insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ar); was between 1.50±0.12 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse); and 2.93±0.08 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Lesvos Gaiter); and the average Polymorphism Information Content insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PIC); values varied from 0.200±0.035 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse); to 0.733±0.026 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Lesvos Gaiter);. No significant deviations from H-W equilibrium were found except for three loci insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ASB2, HTG10 and LEX33); in Messara and one locus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ASB23); in Lesvos Gaiter. Τhe inbreeding coefficient insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Fis); ranged from -0.130 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rodos Small Horse); to 0.042 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Lesvos Gaiter);. The observed insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ho); and expected insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(He); multilocus heterozygosity mean estimations were highest in Lesvos Gaiter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.764±0.027 and 0.783±0.024, respectively); and smallest in Rodos Small Horse insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.300±0.075 and 0.269±0.064, respectively);. Across loci, the total genetic diversity HT was 0.741, the diversity among subpopulations HS was 0.621 and the multilocus genetic differentiation GST was 0.161, which was rather high. The population of Rodos Small Horse separated from the remaining horses as shown by factorial correspondence analysis, population assignment and metric multidimensional scaling diagrams. This study highlights the loss of genetic diversity in small isolated horse populations and the urgent need to take protective measures to preserve them.
Keywords : Indigenous Greek horses, Rare breeds, Microsatellites