DNA barcoding of indigenous fowl of Manipur, Kaunayen (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Abstract

The jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) is a tropical bird with important hereditary and phenotypical traits like disease resistance and resistance to harsh conditions and can often survive with scanty diet. However, as commercial chicken breeds replace them, their population is dwindling, which poses a significant threat to fowl genetic resources. There is minimal information on the variety of Indian poultry, mainly native chicken from Northeast India. As a result, the record of the fowl’s genetic diversity is essential for its preservation and formulation of conservation strategies. The current study sought to identify indigenous chicken, Kaunayen (Gallus gallus domesticus), from Manipur using barcoding based on DNA sequences. A total of 5 CO1 DNA barcodes from several indigenous chickens were sequenced and compared to the previous data of diverse taxa of Phasianidae using the conventional methodology and were recognized as Gallus gallus. The Phasianid birds that were researched were accurately classified into their appropriate species. There is a minuscule genomic difference between G. gallus and G. varius (1.2%) and the highest between Arborophila rufipectus and Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (22.5%). The phylogenetic relationship established on the NJ tree revealed a coherent gathering of indigenous fowl with G. gallus and unique to all other species studied, showing their taxonomic classification. Nonetheless, the investigation offered a genetic identity tag for indigenous chicken for the first time. It will be a potential guide for identifying distinctive and genetically unique poultry sequences for later requirements.