Diversity analysis in two defined strains of Japanese quails using microsatellite markers

A study was conducted to evaluate genetic differences between two diverse Japanese quail strains, CARI UTTAM (CU) and CARI PEARL (CP) possessing variant genetic background due to long term selection and breeding programmes, using six polymorphic quail specific microsatellite markers. Results revealed variable population parameters with all the measures of genetic diversity PIC, Ne, Nei index, H_o, H_e and Shannon index (I) showing higher values for CU as compared to CP while three important F statistic estimates: F_IS, F_ST and F_IT were lower in CU. Intra-strain variability assessed through un-rooted dendrograms exhibited distinctly different dispersal patterns. The results correlated well with the breeding histories of these flocks indicating that CU was more diverse compared to CP. It was inferred that employment of half a dozen polymorphic microsatellites though insufficient, could yet provide valuable assessment of intra and inter strain diversities in such quail strains arisen due to unique breeding histories and evolutionary force (selection).