6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125f861
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Runs of homozygosity in the Italian goat breeds: impact of management practices in low-input systems
Matteo CortellariArianna BiondaAlessio NegroStefano FrattiniSalvatore MastrangeloElisa SomenziEmiliano LasagnaFrancesca M. SartiElena CianiRoberta CiampoliniDonata MarlettaLuigi LiottaPaolo Ajmone MarsanFabio PillaLicia ColliAndrea TalentiPaola Crepaldisubject
adaptation; body size; climate change; ecological impact; farming system; goat; inbreeding; management practiceClimateecological impactadaptationQH426-470Runs of homozygosityPolymorphism Single NucleotideSF1-1100GeneticsAnimalsfarming systemsInbreedingPolymorphismEcology Evolution Behavior and SystematicsbiodiversityGenomeSettore AGR/17 - ZOOTECNICA GENERALE E MIGLIORAMENTO GENETICOlocal breedsAnimalGoatsROHHomozygoteGeneral MedicineSingle NucleotideAnimal cultureclimate changeAnimals; Genome; Homozygote; Inbreeding; Goats; Polymorphism Single Nucleotidelocal breeds biodiversity SNPs inbreedingGoatfarming systemRuns of homozygosity ROH Goat signatures of selection low-input system Climate farming systemsAnimal Science and Zoologybody sizeGoat signatures of selectionlow-input systemmanagement practiceResearch ArticleSNPsdescription
Abstract Background Climate and farming systems, several of which are considered as low-input agricultural systems, vary between goat populations from Northern and Southern Italy and have led to different management practices. These processes have impacted genome shaping in terms of inbreeding and regions under selection and resulted in differences between the northern and southern populations. Both inbreeding and signatures of selection can be pinpointed by the analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH), which provides useful information to assist the management of this species in different rural areas. Results We analyzed the ROH distribution and inbreeding (FROH) in 902 goats from the Italian Goat Consortium2 dataset. We evaluated the differences in individual ROH number and length between goat breeds from Northern (NRD) and Central-southern (CSD) Italy. Then, we identified the signatures of selection that differentiate these two groups using three methods: ROH, ΔROH, and averaged FST. ROH analyses showed that some Italian goat breeds have a lower inbreeding coefficient, which is attributable to their management and history. ROH are longer in breeds that are undergoing non-optimal management or with small population size. In several small breeds, the ROH length classes are balanced, reflecting more accurate mating planning. The differences in climate and management between the NRD and CSD groups have resulted in different ROH lengths and numbers: the NRD populations bred in isolated valleys present more and shorter ROH segments, while the CSD populations have fewer and longer ROH, which is likely due to the fact that they have undergone more admixture events during the horizontal transhumance practice followed by a more recent standardization. We identified four genes within signatures of selection on chromosome 11 related to fertility in the NRD group, and 23 genes on chromosomes 5 and 6 related to growth in the CSD group. Finally, we identified 17 genes on chromosome 12 related to environmental adaptation and body size with high homozygosity in both groups. Conclusions These results show how different management practices have impacted the level of genomic inbreeding in two Italian goat groups and could be useful to assist management in a low-input system while safeguarding the diversity of small populations.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-01 |