Genetic characterization of Tripureswari duck using microsatellite markers

Abstract

Tripureswari, recently recognized a native duck breed of Tripura, was selected for the present genetic study. Genomic DNA was extracted from 36 randomly selected birds sampled from different districts. Genotyping was performed using 12 duck-specific microsatellite loci. Alleles were resolved on 3.4% Metaphore™ agarose gel, sized using ImageLab software, and analyzed using POPGENEv1.32. All 12 microsatellite loci were found polymorphic, collectively resolving 48 distinct alleles, with an average of 4.00 ± 0.48 alleles per locus. The number of alleles at individual loci ranged from 2 to 7, and allele sizes spanned from 110 bp (CAUD08) to 307 bp (CAUD025). Among the loci, APL026 exhibited the lowest heterozygosity (0.408), while APL036 showed the highest (0.463). In terms of polymorphic information content (PIC), CAUD014 had the lowest value (0.366), whereas APL036 recorded the highest (0.779). The average values for heterozygosity, PIC, observed number of alleles, effective number of alleles, and Shannon’s information index were 0.62 ± 0.04, 0.55 ± 0.04, 4.00 ± 0.48, 2.93 ± 0.31, and 1.11 ± 0.10, respectively. The overall within-population inbreeding coefficient was estimated at 0.82 ± 0.07, indicating a high degree of heterozygote deficiency. Significant Chi-square and G-square values observed across the studied loci suggested that the population deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, likely due to factors such as selection, non-random mating, and inbreeding. The high PIC values observed in the present study demonstrate the utility of these microsatellite markers for genetic characterization, assessment of genetic diversity, and differentiation studies in Tripureswari and potentially other indigenous duck breeds.