engleski

Preliminary study on the genetic diversity of the Istrian sheep, Lika and Krk pramenka sheep populations using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity and genetic differentiation were analysed, in a total of 103 sheep from four different populations from Croatia and Slovenia using 24 microsatellite loci. The aim of the study was to provide an initial understanding on the genetic diversity and structure of Istrian dairy sheep by analysing individuals sampled from reproductively isolated populations of Croatia (IST) and Slovenia (ISTs), while Krk island sheep (KRK) and Lika pramenka (LIK) were used as outgroups. Results revealed considerable levels of genetic diversity in the studied samples, similar to results reported in other indigenous sheep breeds related to low production systems. The genetic parameters estimated showed the highest diversity in KRK, and the lowest in LIK sheep population. Istrian breed populations were in between with expected and observed heterozygosity, and the number of private alleles identified, being higher in IST than in ISTs. In the four populations analysed, 67 private alleles were identified. KRK had the highest number of loci with population-specific alleles (12). On the contrary, LIK and ISTs showed the lowest number of private alleles (8). The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.648 and 0.634 (in LIK), respectively, to 0.723 and 0.732 (KRK), respectively. KRK had the lowest Fis value (0.034), while ISTs showed the highest Fis estimate (0.052). In conclusion, the results presented here show high level of conserved genetic diversity in the Istrian dairy sheep breed. The smaller and reproductively isolated Istrian sheep population from Slovenia shows less diversity and a higher inbreeding level.

sheep; breeds; genetic diversity; microsatellites

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