Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Structure of Turkish Water Buffalo Population by Using 20 Microsatellite Markers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In the present study, twenty microsatellite loci were tested to assess and analyze the genetic diversity between and within 17 different populations of Turkish water buffalo. The total number of animals sampled was 837, collected from six geographical regions: Marmara Region (MRM), Black Sea Region (BSR), Aegean Region (AER), Central Anatolia Region (CAR), Eastern Anatolia Region (EAR) and Southeastern Anatolia Region (SAR). All studied microsatellites markers showed allelic polymorphism. In this study, the results indicated a definite genetic diversity among the Turkish water buffalo populations which indicates the existence of at least two major clusters. ABSTRACT: The present study was aimed to investigate the genetic diversity among 17 Turkish water buffalo populations. A total of 837 individuals from 17 provincial populations were genotyped, using 20 microsatellites markers. The microsatellite markers analyzed were highly polymorphic with a mean number of alleles of (7.28) ranging from 6 (ILSTS005) to 17 (ETH003). The mean observed and expected heterozygosity values across all polymorphic loci in all studied buffalo populations were 0.61 and 0.70, respectively. Observed heterozygosity varied from 0.55 (Bursa (BUR)) to 0.70 (Muş (MUS)). It was lower than expected heterozygosity in most of the populations indicating a deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The overall value for the polymorphic information content of noted microsatellite loci was 0.655, indicating their suitability for genetic diversity analysis in buffalo. The mean F(IS) value was 0.091 and all loci were observed significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), most likely based on non-random breeding. The 17 buffalo populations were genetically less diverse as indicated by a small mean F(ST) value (0.032 ± 0.018). The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) analysis indicated that about 2% of the total genetic diversity was clarified by population distinctions and 88 percent corresponded to differences among individuals. The information produced by this study can be used to establish a base of national conservation and breeding strategy of water buffalo population in Turkey.