Genetic Structure of Russian Riding Horse Breed

Abstract

166 horses of the russian riding breed were studied using 17 microsatellite loci recommended by ISAG. Microsatellite polymorphism data of thirty European breeds (7874 individuals) was used for comparative analysis of genetic diversity. According to the level of allelic richness, the Russian riding horse has high values – 5. 4 alleles per microsatellite locus. In total, 122 alleles were found in the breed, including private 14 allele at the HTG7 locus. The population genetic structure was revealed for the Russian riding, Arabian, Akhal-Teke, German riding and thoroughbred breeds. Clustering of horse breeds on a circular UPGMA dendrogram revealed six main clusters. the Russian ridinghorse forms a single group with German and thoroughbred horses in PCA. Breeds were divided into three populations in STRUCTURE program: 1) Arabian, 2) Russian Riding, Akhal-Teke, thoroughbred riding, 3) German half-breed. Analysis of differentiation between breeds using the F-st method showed the greatest values (differences) between all breeds with the Akhal-Tekehorses. The smallest value (Fst = 0.22) between the Russian riding and German riding breed. Differences for each pair of breeds were significant (p-value 0.001).