Analysis of genetic diversity among seven goat populations in the middle and lower valley of Yangtse River and southeast coastal regions in China

Abstract

The genomes of seven native goat populations were screened by using microsatellites as molecular markers; the populations were Yichang white, Matou, Xiangdong black, Fuqing, Daiyun, Huanghuai and Yangtse River Delta white goats. A total of 23 microsatellite markers were used and genetic diversities and genetic distances were also determined. The results showed that only 21 loci showed polymorphism in all populations. BM0203 was a homozygotic locus in every population, but more than one allele was found among all populations. Alleles of BM6444 were homozygotic in Xiangdong Black and Yichang White goats, but more than one allele was detected in other populations. Average heterozygosity of all populations was 0.819 0, and the mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of all seven populations was 0.630 5–0.691 9. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram was constructed on Nei s standard genetic distance. Matou and Xiangdong black were grouped at first, then Fuqing, Daiyun, Yangtse River Delta white and Huanghuai goats joined them respectively. Finally, Yichang white goats clustered with all of the above.