Molecular Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White Rabbits
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Date
03-07-15
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PVNR TVU
Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Soviet
Chinchilla and Californian White rabbits and investigate in to their genetic diversity.
The overall least-squares mean litter size and litter weight was 5.52 ± 0.16 and
264.75 ± 7.86 at birth and 3.56 ± 0.17 and 1439.67 ± 72.55 g at weaning, respectively.
Year and season of birth showed significant effect on litter traits while genetic group
had a non-significant effect. Winter proved to be the favorable season of birth.
The overall least-squares mean body weights were 40.89 ± 0.48, 113.65 ± 1.38,
161.50 ± 2.03, 226.15 ± 3.47 and 417.89 ± 7.53 g at birth, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age,
respectively. The overall mean body weights at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of age
were 628.75 ± 13.02, 844.11 ± 14.81, 1040.79 ± 16.42, 1225.96 ± 17.81, 1437.57 ±
20.54 and 1730.16 ± 29.34 g, respectively. Year and season of birth showed significant
effect on body weights while genetic group had a non-significant effect.
The heritability estimates of body weights from birth to 16 weeks age varied
from 0.21±0.10 to 0.73 ± 0.19 while genetic correlations varied from -0.56 ± 0.11 to
0.99 ± 0.01. The phenotypic correlations varied from 0.18 ± 0.04 to 0.98 ± 0.01.
Microsatellite analysis was conducted by using 20 microsatellite markers (12
rabbit specific and 8 inter species) on 15 rabbits from each breed). Genomic DNA
isolated from the blood had a mean concentration of 546.619ng/μl and mean optical
absorbance ratio (at 260/280nm) of 1.832. All the rabbit specific primers only were
successfully amplified by PCR and were highly polymorphic and informative. A total
of 199 alleles (102 in SC and 97 in CW) were observed across the amplified loci.
Number of alleles ranged from 4 to 11 in Soviet Chinchilla and 6 to 10 in Californian
White.
The overall mean observed, expected and unbiased expected heterozygosity
values were 0.681, 0.842 and 0.872 in Soviet Chinchilla and 0.665, 0.849 and 0.880 in
Californian White, respectively.
The mean inbreeding coefficient was 0.194 in Soviet Chinchilla and 0.221 in
Californian White. Only 1 locus showed negative inbreeding coefficient in both the
population.
The overall mean FIS, FIT and FST values were 0.208, 0.238 and 0.040
respectively. At two loci SAT07 (FST value 0.065) and SAT16 (FST value 0.141),
moderate and high degree of differentiation was observed between the two populations
and all the remaining loci have the FST value less than 0.05 suggesting that
differentiation did not exist between these two populations at these loci.
The mean PIC was 0.822 and 0.831 in Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White
population respectively. All the loci recorded more than 2 alleles indicating that they
are polymorphic and informative.
Out of the 12 loci amplified, 5 loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium, which may be due to selection followed.
Medium to higher heritability revealed for growth traits indicates scope for
improvement by selective breeding. Further, the microsatellites used in the present
study were found to be informative and suggest their future use for further
investigations.