Journal of Applied Animal Research

A panel of 25 bovine specific heterologous microsatellite markers was employed for evaluating both within and between breed genetic variability estimates in Pandharpuri and Nagpuri buffaloes, two prominent breeds of Central India. A total of 148 alleles were detected across the two breeds with mean number of 5.92 alleles. The mean allelic diversity and heterozygosity reflected the existence of relatively higher genetic variability in Nagpuri buffalo. The F-statistics estimates were significantly different from zero (P<0.05) with F (F_IT) = 0.349 ± 0.051, f (F_IS) = 0.254 ± 0.039, θ (F_ST) = 0.126 ± 0.042. Most of the genetic variations correspond to differences among individuals (87.4%). Various genetic differentiation estimates indicated moderate differentiation between Nagpuri and Pandharpuri buffaloes. Individual assignment and inter-individual allele sharing estimates also substantiated the presence of discrete genetic structure in both the buffalo breeds from Central India.