Immunocompetence based genetic divergence among guinea fowl varieties, desi fowl and commercial broilers

The genetic divergence using D²-statistics was estimated among the guinea fowl varieties i.e. White, Pearl and Lavender and two chicken genetic groups i.e. Kadaknath and commercial broilers. Various immunological traits namely, haemolytic and bactericidal complement, immunoglobulin-G (Ig-G) and lysozyme levels in serum, phagocytic index, in vivo responses to mitogen (wing index) and blood coagulation time were estimated in guinea fowl varieties and chicken and the records were used in determination of genetic divergence among the different avian stocks. Wing index had maximum (16.9%) contribution whereas serum Ig-G level contributed the least (6.2%) to the total divergence. The D²-values among five genetic groups ranged between 0.209 and 11.431; maximum being between Lavender variety of guinea fowl and commercial broiler and the least between Pearl and Lavender varieties of guinea fowl. Clustering by Tocher's method revealed that three varieties of guinea fowl constitutes cluster I while cluster II consisted of Kadaknath and broiler germplasm. Average intracluster distance for cluster I and II were 0.436 and 2.836 respectively whereas average intercluster distance was 8.760. The canonical vectors λ₁ and λ₂ were 8.857 and 3.051 with the percent contribution of 74.4 and 25.6% respectively. The graphical representation according to Z values also showed similar results as obtained by Tocher's method.