scholarly journals The Current Status of Indigenous Ovine Genetic Resources in Southern Africa and Future Sustainable Utilisation to Improve Livelihoods

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelin Henriehetta Molotsi ◽  
Bekezela Dube ◽  
Schalk Willem Petrus Cloete
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Indigenous Sheep ◽  
Southern Africa Development Community ◽  
Namaqua Afrikaner

Indigenous sheep play an important role in the livelihoods of communal farmers in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and this underlines the need to curb the genetic erosion of these valuable resources. This contribution reports that the phenotypic performance and genetics gains of institutional and commercial sheep in Southern Africa are well recorded. In contrast, there is a dearth of knowledge as far as the performance and genetic gains of indigenous ovine genetic resources utilized by smallholder farmers are concerned. High levels of genetic diversity have been observed in exotic breeds, whereas low levels of genetic diversity were found in the Zulu and Namaqua Afrikaner breeds. Phenotypic measurements for indigenous resources include linear measurements indicative of size and reproduction for Zulu sheep. Lamb survival, reproduction and resistance to ticks of the indigenous, fat-tailed Namaqua Afrikaner sheep, as well as growth and reproduction have also been recorded for Sabi and Landim sheep. This review discusses ways to sustainably utilize ovine genetic resources, which includes the suggested implementation of structured breeding and conservation programs, marketing, improving feed resources, health and diseases, as well as gender and age issues. Clearly, there is ample room for further research and development as far as the performance and improvement of African indigenous sheep are concerned.

scholarly journals Direct cryopreservation of poultry/avian embryonic reproductive cells: A low-tech, cost-effective and efficient method for safeguarding genetic diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuanjun Hu ◽  
Lorna Taylor ◽  
Adrian Sherman ◽  
Christian Keambou Tiambo ◽  
Steven J Kemp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Climate Resilience

Chickens are an important resource for smallholder farmers who raise locally adapted, genetically distinct breeds for eggs and meat. The development of efficient reproductive technologies to conserve and regenerate chicken breeds safeguards existing biodiversity and secures poultry genetic resources for climate resilience, biosecurity, and future food production. The majority of the over 1600 breeds of chicken are raised in low and lower to middle income countries (LMICs) under resource limited, small scale production systems, which necessitates a low tech, cost effective means of conserving diversity is needed. Here, we validate a simple biobanking technique using cryopreserved embryonic chicken gonads. The gonads are quickly isolated, visually sexed, pooled by sex, and cryopreserved. Subsequently, the stored material is thawed and dissociated before injection into sterile host chicken embryos. By using pooled GFP and RFP-labelled donor gonadal cells and Sire Dam Surrogate (SDS) mating, we demonstrate that chicks deriving entirely from male and female donor germ cells are hatched. This technology will enable ongoing efforts to conserve chicken genetic diversity for both commercial and small holder farmers, and to preserve existing genetic resources at poultry research facilities.

Indigenous chicken genetic resources in Bangladesh: current status and future outlook

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.K.F.H. Bhuiyan ◽  
M.S.A. Bhuiyan ◽  
G.K. Deb
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Production System ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Indigenous Chicken ◽  
Indigenous Chickens

SummaryLivestock, especially poultry, is a promising sector for poverty reduction in Bangladesh. Approximately 140 millions chickens are scattered throughout 68 000 villages in the country, mostly of indigenous, non-descript type. The production system for indigenous chickens is smallholder backyard scavenging in nature with each family keeping an average of 6–7 chickens to meet family requirements, and from which a cash income can also be derived when necessary. Indigenous chickens produce about 75% of the eggs and 78% of the meat consumed domestically. Among said indigenous chicken genetic resources, non-descript Deshi, Aseel and Naked Neck breeds are noteworthyThe non-descript Deshi chicken constitutes about 90% of the indigenous population. Also known as ‘Murghi’, they have undergone unknown periods of natural selection and are a reservoir of excellent genetic diversity. They show high levels of morphological and phenotypic variability and increased fitness under natural settings. Studies reveal that they may be regarded as one breed or population because of the small genetic distances among them. Deshi chickens are characterized by black (75%) and red (25%) plumage colour; black (39%), yellow (32%) and white (29%) shank color; black (99%) eye color; bright red (59%) and pale (41%) comb colour; white (82%) and yellow (17%) skin colour; no definite (61%) and lacing (17%) feather pattern; medium (70%) and large (19%) body size; single comb (97%) and rudimentary spur (98%); medium egg size (80%); light brown (67%) and white (27%) egg shell colour. Regarding production traits, Deshi chickens have average hatch weight of 29 g; body weight at 4, 8, 12 weeks; weekly weight gain (0–12 weeks) of respectively of 77, 175, 315, 24 grams; age at first egg (175 days); weight of pullet (0.9 kg); mature body weight (1.3 kg); hatchability (52%); fertility (83%); annual egg production (45 -50 eggs); 9% mortality up to 500 days of age.The indigenous chicken population of Bangladesh has been undergoing genetic erosion since the 1960s, following the introduction of improved stock from developed countries. Efforts to sustain commercial hybrid broiler and layer chicken farming under intensive and semi-intensive production models have been tested, but efficiency of systematic characterization, screening, breed improvement and conservation programmes with the indigenous Deshi chickens at the smallholder village levels (in-situ) of Bangladesh are yet to be tested. Such an initiative may help to save these creatures from the grip of thethreat of extinction. This in turn may help to sustain village chicken production system in Bangladesh and could be a useful micro-economic strategy in the on-going poverty alleviation process in the country.

scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF SORGHUM [SORGHUM BICOLOR (L.) MOENCH] GERMPLASM IN EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Shadia A. Salih ◽  
Labuschange T. Labuschange ◽  
Abdalla H. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Population Structure Analysis ◽  
Sorghum Production ◽  
High Level

The study of genetic diversity in crops has a strong impact on plant breeding and maintenance of genetic resources. Comprehensive knowledge of the genetic biodiversity of cultivated and wild sorghum germplasm is an important prerequisite for sustainability of sorghum production. Recurrent droughts resulting from climate change scenarios’ in many East and Central Africa countries, where sorghum is a significant arable crop, can potentially lead to genetic erosion and loss of valuable genetic resources. This study aimed at assessing the extent and pattern of genetic diversity and population genetic structure among sorghum accessions from selected countries in East and Central Africa (Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda and Burundi) using39 microsatellites markers. The studied loci were polymorphic and revealed a total of 941 alleles in 1108 sorghum genotypes. High levels of diversity were revealed with Sudan (68.5) having the highest level of genetic diversity followed by Ethiopia (65.3), whereas Burundi (0.45) and Rwanda (0.33) had the lowest level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance indicated, all variance components to be highly significant (p<0.001). The bulk of the variation was partitioned within countries (68.1%) compared to among countries (31.9%). Genetic differentiation between countries based on FST values was high and highly significant (FST=0.32). Neighbour-joining (NJ) analysis formed two distinct clusters according to geographic regions, namely the central region (Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda) and the eastern region (Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea). Population structure analysis revealed six distinct populations corresponding to NJ analysis and geographical origin of accessions. Countries clustered independently with small integration, which indicated the role of farmers’ practices in the maintenance of landrace identity and genetic diversity. The observed high level of genetic diversity indicated that germplasm from East Africa should be preserved from genetic erosion, especially in countries with the highest diversity.

Conservation genetics of UK livestock: from molecules to management

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 151-169
Author(s):  
M.W. Bruford
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Molecular Genetic Diversity ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Rational Management

AbstractAnalysis of molecular genetic diversity in livestock potentially allows for rational management of genetic resources experiencing the serious pressures now facing the livestock sector. The potentially damaging effects of genetic erosion are an ongoing threat, both through loss of breeding stock during the 2001 FMD crisis and potentially as a result of the ongoing National Scrapie Plan. These factors and an increasing focus through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on the conservation of animal genetic resources force us to consider seriously how to measure, monitor and conserve diversity throughout the genomes of livestock. Currently debated ways to optimally conserve livestock diversity, particularly the ‘Weitzman Approach’, may fail to take into account the significance of within-breed genetic diversity and its structuring, and apply relatively simplistic models to predict the probability of extinction for breeds over defined periods of time under certain management scenarios. In this paper I argue, using examples from our work and that of others, that within-breed diversity, in particular, should not be ignored when conserving livestock diversity, since breeds may be genetically structured at a variety of scales and there is little evidence for a convincing relationship between effective population size and genetic diversity within rare UK breeds. Furthermore, until we understand the population genetic forces that shape diversity in breeds in more detail, using raw indices of genetic variation or distances to rank or prioritise breeds in terms of some notional threat of extinction has questionable conservation value.

scholarly journals Conservation of Genetic Diversity of Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Cristian ALBU ◽  
Aurel MAXIM ◽  
Raluca Maria PÂRLICI
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
International Convention ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Convention On Biodiversity

Among the main problems encountered with crop plants, the most important one is represented by genetic erosion. At world level this issue has been debated within the Convention on Biodiversity adopted in UN Conference of Rio de Janeiro and The International Convention regarding Genetic Resources of Plants for Alimentation and Agriculture. In Europe, the regulations in this field are made by the European Directive 98/95 EEC. Across time tomatoes have suffered a heightened process of genetic diversity, phenomenon caused by industrialized farming which is based on the use of very uniform varieties with high productivity. The extension of green agriculture, has led to the use of landraces, because they respond best to the traditional farming systems. In Western Europe organizations of peasants had been founded and, they are involved in different activities aiming at conservation of traditional forms of agriculture and the use of old varieties. In Romania the institutions with continuous preoccupations in the field of vegetal genetic conservation, especially landraces, are the Gene Bank from Suceava and UASMV Cluj-Napoca. By using conservation methods (in situ and ex situ), the genetic erosion surely phenomenon of vegetal genetic resources, implicitly tomatoes, is reduced, the future generations will benefit from valuable genetic resources.

scholarly journals Microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses unveil the genetic structure of native sheep breeds from three major agro-ecological regions of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rekha Sharma ◽  
Sonika Ahlawat ◽  
Himani Sharma ◽  
Priyanka Sharma ◽  
Poonam Panchal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Haplotype Diversity ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Sheep Breeds ◽  
Indigenous Sheep

AbstractSheep farming has been fundamental to many civilizations in the world and is practiced in India since antiquity. Several thousand years of adaptation to local environmental conditions and selective breeding have evolved 44 sheep breeds in India. They are paramount in terms of economic, scientific, and cultural heritage. Genetic characterization information is imperative for sustainable utilization and conservation of ovine heritage. In this study, the genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of 11 indigenous sheep breeds from three different agro-ecological zones of India were explored with genomic microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA (D loop). The estimated diversity parameters indicated that populations retained high levels of genetic diversity (Na = 8.27 ± 0.17; Ho = 0.65 ± 0.01), which provides an optimistic viewpoint for their survival. However, significant inbreeding was also observed in the nine populations. Moderate genetic differentiation existed among the groups (FST = 0.129 ± 0.012), and most likely clusters existing in the dataset are seven. Phylogenetic clustering was in line with the geographical locations of sheep populations. Mitochondrial sequences revealed high haplotype diversity with the existence of maternal haplogroups A, B, and C, and signals of population expansion. Decreased genetic diversity and unique maternal lineage (C) in endangered Tibetan and Bonpala sheep breed, warrant their immediate scientific management. Overall, the quantitative data reported here on the extant variability, and genetic relationships among the Indian sheep breeds, provide critically important inputs that will be valuable for the decision-making process on their management, both for the conservation of endangered breeds, and formulation of breeding programs to check genetic erosion.

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