Assessment of the genetic diversity of microsatellite loci of horses of Heavy Draft breeds

Abstract

The results of comparative analysis of the genetic structure are reported for the following breeds: Vladimir Heavy Draft (n=210), Russian Heavy Draft (n=60), Soviet Heavy Draft (n=51) and Persheron (n=38) on 17 DNA microsatellite including VHL20, HTG4, AHT4, HMS7, HTG6, AHT5, HMS6, ASB23, ASB2, HTG10, HTG7, HMS3, HMS2, ASB17, LEX3, HMS1, CA425. There were identified 139 alleles of STR loci in the tested horses. The largest range of alleles (Na = 121) was reported in Russian and Soviet Heavy Draft horses. The number of alleles in the studied loci varied from 3 to 12 with an average value from 6,12 to 7,12 per locus. A comparative analysis of Heavy Draft horse breeds according to the main genetic and population characteristics showed that the Soviet Heavy Draft horse breed is leading in terms of genetic diversity and have high polymorphism (Ae = 4,00) and degree of heterozygosity (He = 0,722). Interbreed inbreeding was found out in the small population of Persheron (Fis=0,074) which was the most different from the other breeds (Fst=0,080) in its genetic structure. The highest coefficient of genetic similarity (0.955) was established between Russian and Soviet Heavy Draft breeds, while the relationship between Vladimir and Soviet Heavy Draft breeds was minimal (0.716). The cluster analysis showed a certain genetic relationship between Heavy Draft breeds of the West European lines and the close similarity between the Soviet and Russian Heavy Draft breeds. Microsatellite profiles of Heavy Draft breeds and genetic distances between them rather adequately reflect their microevolution and specificity of the breeding process in populations.