Characterization of Indian Riverine Buffaloes by Microsatellite Markers

Six breeds of riverine buffalo viz. Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffrabadi, Nagpuri, Nili-Ravi and Bhadawari were characterized using FAO-recommended cattle specific microsatellite markers. Among the total of twenty microsatellite markers screened to explore genomic variability of six buffalo breeds, only ten were polymorphic in nature. Four out of ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were rated as informative. The numbers of alleles detected ranged from 2 to 7, with a mean of 5.5±0.07 per microsatellite marker. The most polymorphic marker was BM1818 with a total of 7 alleles present at this locus. One breed specific marker was found in each of Mehsana (BM1818) and Bhadawari (ILSTS030) and four were found in Jaffarabadi (BM1818, ILSTS030, ILSTS054 and ILSTS011). Genetic distance (Ds) between the Mehsana and Bhadawari breed was the maximum (0.29), followed by Murrah and Mehsana (0.27), and Nili-Ravi and Bhadawari (0.26). The lowest Ds was found between the Jaffrabadi and Nagpuri breeds which was only 0.05. The highest divergence time of 1318 years was established between Mehsana and Bhadawari breeds whereas it was found to be lowest (272 years) between the Jaffrabadi and Nagpuri breeds. (