Genetic characterization of native southern African chicken populations: evaluation and selection of polymorphic microsatellite markers

This study presents the first results on the evaluation and selection of po lymorphic microsatellite markers for the genetic characterization of native chicken populations in southern Africa. Blood samples for DNA extraction w ere obtained from five chicken lines from South Africa (Koekoek, New Hampsh ire, Naked-Neck, Lebowa-Venda and Ovambo), and from one population each fro m Mozambique and Botswana. Twenty-three markers were found to be polymorphi c in most of the lines studied. The mean number of alleles observed for all markers was 6.1, and varied from 2.3 (Koekoek) to 4.3 (Mozambique populati on). The lowest heterozygosity was found in the Koekoek line (31.4%), and t he highest in the populations from Mozambique (60.7%) and Botswana (61.2%). It was concluded that this particular set of microsatellite markers can be of use a measure of genetic variability in native chicken lines in souther n Africa, and should be evaluated as diagnostic tools for breed identificat ion.