Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (4): 862-871    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61104-2
Animal Science · Veterinary Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
High gene flows promote close genetic relationship among fine-wool sheep populations (Ovis aries) in China
HAN Ji-long1, YANG Min2, GUO Ting-ting1, LIU Jian-bin1, NIU Chun-e1, YUAN Chao1, YUE Yao-jing1, YANG Bo-hui1
1 Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, P.R.China
2 Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  The aim of our present study was to construct genetic structure and relationships among Chinese fine-wool sheep breeds. 46 individuals from 25 breeds or strains were genotyped based on the Illumina Ovine 50K SNP array. Meanwhile, genetic variations among 482 individuals from 9 populations were genotyped with 10 microsatellites. In this study, we found high genetic polymorphisms for the microsatellites, while 7 loci in the Chinese superfine Merino strain (Xinjiang types) (CMS) and 5 loci in Gansu alpine superfine-wool sheep strain (GSS) groups were found deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Genetic drift FST=0.019 (P<0.001) and high gene flows were detected in all the 7 fine-wool sheep populations. Phylogenetic analysis showed fine-wool sheep populations were clustered in a group independent from the Chinese indigenous breeds such that the 7 fine-wool sheep clustered distinct from Liangshan semifine-wool sheep (LS) and Hu sheep (HY) reflected by different population differentiation analyses. Overall, our findings suggested that all fine-wool sheep populations have close genetic relationship, which is consistent with their breeding progress. These populations, therefore, can be regarded as open-breeding populations with high levels of gene flows. Furthermore, the two superfine-wool strains, viz., CMS and GSS, might be formed by strong artificial selection and with frequent introduction of Australian Merino. Our results can assist in breeding of superfine-wool sheep and provide guidance for the cultivation of new fine-wool sheep breeds with different breeding objectives.

Abstract  The aim of our present study was to construct genetic structure and relationships among Chinese fine-wool sheep breeds. 46 individuals from 25 breeds or strains were genotyped based on the Illumina Ovine 50K SNP array. Meanwhile, genetic variations among 482 individuals from 9 populations were genotyped with 10 microsatellites. In this study, we found high genetic polymorphisms for the microsatellites, while 7 loci in the Chinese superfine Merino strain (Xinjiang types) (CMS) and 5 loci in Gansu alpine superfine-wool sheep strain (GSS) groups were found deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Genetic drift FST=0.019 (P<0.001) and high gene flows were detected in all the 7 fine-wool sheep populations. Phylogenetic analysis showed fine-wool sheep populations were clustered in a group independent from the Chinese indigenous breeds such that the 7 fine-wool sheep clustered distinct from Liangshan semifine-wool sheep (LS) and Hu sheep (HY) reflected by different population differentiation analyses. Overall, our findings suggested that all fine-wool sheep populations have close genetic relationship, which is consistent with their breeding progress. These populations, therefore, can be regarded as open-breeding populations with high levels of gene flows. Furthermore, the two superfine-wool strains, viz., CMS and GSS, might be formed by strong artificial selection and with frequent introduction of Australian Merino. Our results can assist in breeding of superfine-wool sheep and provide guidance for the cultivation of new fine-wool sheep breeds with different breeding objectives.
Keywords:  Chinese fine-wool sheep        indigenous sheep breeds        genetic relationship        gene flow        microsatellites  
Received: 09 March 2015   Accepted:
Fund: 

This work was financially sponsored by the Earmarked Fund for Modern China Wool & Cashmere Technology Research System (CARS-40-03) and the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scholars of China (31402057). Project support was provided by the ASTIP (Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program) for Genetic Resource and Breeding of Fine-Wool Sheep, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Corresponding Authors:  YUE Yao-jing, E-mail: yueyaojing@126.com; YANG Bo-hui, E-mail: yangbh2004@163.com   
About author:  HAN Ji-long, E-mail: hanjilong10000@126.com

Cite this article: 

HAN Ji-long, YANG Min, GUO Ting-ting, LIU Jian-bin, NIU Chun-e, YUAN Chao, YUE Yao-jing, YANG Bo-hui . 2016. High gene flows promote close genetic relationship among fine-wool sheep populations (Ovis aries) in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(4): 862-871.

Alexander D H, Novembre J, Lange K. 2009. Fast model-based estimation of ancestry in unrelated individuals. Genome Research, 19, 1655–1664.

Botstein D, White R L, Skolnick M, Davis R W. 1980. Construction of a genetic linkage map in man using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. American Journal of Human Genetics, 32, 314–331.

Chen S, Duan Z, Sha T, Xiangyu J, Wu S, Zhang Y. 2006. Origin, genetic diversity, and population structure of Chinese domestic sheep. Gene, 376, 216–223.

Ciani E, Crepaldi P, Nicoloso L, Lasagna E, Sarti F M, Moioli B, Napolitano F, Carta A, Usai G, D’Andrea M, Marletta D, Ciampolini R, Riggio V, Occidente M, Matassino D, Kompan D, Modesto P, Macciotta N, Ajmone-Marsan P, Pilla F. 2014. Genome-wide analysis of Italian sheep diversity reveals a strong geographic pattern and cryptic relationships between breeds. Animal Genetics, 45, 256–266.

Di J, Ainiwaer L, Xu X, Zhang Y, Yu L, Li W. 2014. Genetic trends for growth and wool traits of Chinese superfine Merino sheep using a multi-trait animal model. Small Ruminant Research, 117, 47–51.

Excoffier L, Laval G, Schneider S. 2005. Arlequin (version 3.0): An integrated software package for population genetics data analysis. Evolutionary Bioinformatics Online, 1, 47.

Evanno G, Regnaut S, Goudet J. 2005. Detecting the number of clusters of individuals using the software STRUCTURE: A simulation study. Molecular Ecology, 14, 2611–2620.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2007. The state of world’s animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. Rome. [2014-12-5]. http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3327e/i3327e00.htm

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) 2011–2012. FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations. [2014-12-5]. http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QL/E

Fariello M I, Servin B, Tosser-Klopp G, Rupp R, Moreno C, San C M, Boitard S. 2014. Selection signatures in worldwide sheep populations. PLoS One, 9, e103813.

Goudet J. 2002. FSTAT, a statistical program to estimate and test gene diversities and fixation indices (version 2.9.3.3). [2014-6-15]. http://www2.unil.ch/popgen/softwares/fstat.htm

Groeneveld L F, Lenstra J A, Eding H, Toro M A, Scherf B, Pilling D, Negrini R, Finlay E K, Jianlin H, Groeneveld E, Weigend S. 2010. Genetic diversity in farm animals - A review. Animal Genetics, 411, 6–31.

Guo S W, Thompson E A. 1992. Performing the exact test of Hardy-Weinberg proportion for multiple alleles. Biometrics, 116, 361–372.

Hartl D L, Clark A G. 1997. Principles of population genetics. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland. p. 542.

Kijas J W, Lenstra J A, Hayes B, Boitard S, Neto L R P, San Cristobal M, Servin B, McCulloch R, Whan V, Gietzen K, Paiva S, Barendse W, Ciani E, Raadsma H, McEwan J, Dalrymple B. 2012. Genome-wide analysis of the world’s sheep breeds reveals high levels of historic mixture and strong recent selection. PLoS Biology, 10, e1001258.

Kovach W L. 2008. Kovach Computing Services: MVSP Version 3.1. Anglesey, Wales.

Lancioni H, Di Lorenzo P, Ceccobelli S, Perego U A, Miglio A, Landi V, Antognoni M T, Sarti F M, Lasagna E, Achilli A. 2013. Phylogenetic relationships of three Italian merino-derived sheep breeds evaluated through a complete mitogenome analysis. PLoS One, 8, e73712.

Leberg P L. 2002. Estimating allelic richness: Effects of sample size and bottlenecks. Molecular Ecology, 11, 2445–2449.

Liu N, Li H, Liu K, Yu J, Bu R, Cheng M, De W, Liu J, He G, Zhao J. 2014. Identification of skin-expressed genes possibly associated with wool growth regulation of Aohan fine wool sheep. BMC Genetics, 15, 144.

Lv F, Agha S, Kantanen J, Colli L, Stucki S, Kijas J W, Joost S, Li M, Marsan P A. 2014. Adaptations to climate-mediated selective pressures in sheep. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 31, 3324–3343.

Nei M. 1978. Estimation of average heterozygosity and genetic distance from a small number of individuals. Genetics, 89, 583–590.

Niu L L, Li H B, Ma Y H, Du L X. 2012. Genetic variability and individual assignment of Chinese indigenous sheep populations (Ovis aries) using microsatellites. Animal Genetics, 43, 108–111.

Ota T. 1993. DISPAN: Genetic Distance and Phylogenetic Analysis. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Park S. 2001. Microsatellite Toolkit. Department of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Plotree D, Plotgram D. 1989. PHYLIP-phylogeny inference package (version 3.2). Cladistics, 5, 163–166.

Pritchard J K, Stephens M, Donnelly P. 2000. Inference of population structure using multilocus genotype data. Genetics, 155, 945–959.

Purcell S, Neale B, Todd-Brown K, Thomas L, Ferreira M A R, Bender D, Maller J, Sklar P, de Bakker P I W, Daly M J, Sham P C. 2007. PLINK: A tool set for whole-genome association and population-based linkage analyses. American Journal of Human Genetics, 81, 559–575.

Raymond M, Rousset F. 1995. GENEPOP (Version 1.2): Population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenicism. Journal of Heredity, 86, 248–249.

Rosenberg N A. 2004. DISTRUCT: A program for the graphical display of population structure. Molecular Ecology Notes, 4, 137–138.

Wang X, Ma Y, Chen H. 2006. Analysis of the genetic diversity and the phylogenetic evolution of Chinese sheep based on Cyt b gene sequences. Acta Genetica Sinica, 33, 1081–1086. (in Chinese)

Wang Z, Zhang H, Yang H, Wang S, Rong E, Pei W, Li H, Wang N. 2014. Genome-wide association study for wool production traits in a Chinese Merino sheep population. PLoS One, 9, e107101.

Wei C H, Wang H H, Liu G, Wu M M, Cao J X, Liu Z, Liu R Z, Zhao F P, Zhang L, Lu J, Du L X. 2015. Genome-wide analysis reveals population structure and selection in Chinese indigenous sheep breeds. BMC Genomics, 16, 194.

Weir B S, Cockerham C C. 1984. Estimating F-statistics for the analysis of population structure. Evolution, 38, 1358–1370.

Wright S. 1978. Evolution and the Genetics of Populations. A Treatise in Four Volumes: Variability Within and Among Natural Populations. University of Chicago Press, USA. p. 580.

Yilmaz O, Cemal I, Karaca O. 2014. Genetic diversity in nine native Turkish sheep breeds based on microsatellite analysis. Animal Genetics, 45, 604–608.

Zhang L, Mousel M R, Wu X, Michal J J, Zhou X, Ding B, Dodson M V, El-Halawany N K, Lewis G S, Jiang Z. 2013. Genome-wide genetic diversity and differentially selected regions among Suffolk, Rambouillet, Columbia, Polypay, and Targhee sheep. PLoS One, 8, e65942.

Zhao E, Yu Q, Zhang N, Kong D, Zhao Y. 2013. Mitochondrial DNA diversity and the origin of Chinese indigenous sheep. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45, 1715–1722.

Zheng P L. 1988. Sheep and Goat Breeds in China. Shanghai Scientific and Technology Publishers, China. (in Chinese)

Zhong T, Han J L, Guo J, Zhao Q J, Fu B L, He X H, Jeond J T, Guan W J, Ma Y H. 2010. Genetic diversity of Chinese indigenous sheep breeds inferred from microsatellite markers. Small Ruminant Research, 90, 88–94.

Zhu L, Lan R, Yang J, Munaier S, Yang H, Shen X, Hong Q. 2013. Study on genetic relationship among six semifine-wool sheep breeds. China Herbivores, 33, 5–9. (in Chinese)
[1] LIU Na, CHENG Fang-yun, GUO Xin, ZHONG Yuan. Development and application of microsatellite markers within transcription factors in flare tree peony (Paeonia rockii) based on next-generation and single-molecule long-read RNA-seq[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1832-1848.
[2] GAO Yuan, WANG Da-jiang, WANG Kun, CONG Pei-hua, LI Lian-wen, PIAO Ji-cheng. Analysis of genetic diversity and structure across a wide range of germplasm reveals genetic relationships among seventeen species of Malus Mill. native to China [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(12): 3186-3198.
No Suggested Reading articles found!