GENETIC POLYMORPHISM OF BUFFALO BUBALUS BUBALIS BUBALIS BY CYTOGENETIC AND MOLECULAR MARKERS

To estimate genetic polymorphism of buffaloes Bubalus bubalis bubalis by the characteristics of karyotype and microsatellite loci of DNA. Methods. The method of preparing chromosome preparations using blood lymphocytes of 30 animals and the analysis of 9 microsatellite loci of DNA, recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) for cattle genotyping, were used in the investigation. Results. Based on the results of the analysis of GTG-stained preparations of metaphase chromosomes, it was determined that the karyotype of the investigated animals consisted of 25 pairs of chromosomes, which identified them as river (murrah) buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis bubalis). The average frequency of detected quantitative and structural chromosome aberrations in the buffalo population under investigation was 13.58 +/- 3.18 % for males and 14.8 +/- 2.88% for females. Active centers of nucleolus organizers were found on six pairs of chromosomes: 3p, 4p, 6q, 21q, 23q and 24q. In nine investigated microsatellite loci of DNA, 61 allele variants were identified with the variation from four alleles (ILST 006) to 11 (TGLA) with the average number of alleles per locus being 6.77. The expected heterozygosity (He) exceeded the average value of the observed heterozygosity (Ho) which demonstrated the use of inbreeding in the breeding of the investigated group of animals. Conclusions. The application of quantitative and morphological characteristics of the karyotype and microsatellite DNA-markers (ILST005 (ILSTS005), ILST006 (D7S8), BM1818 (D23S21), BM2113 (D2S26), ETHIO (D5S3). ETH225 (D9S1), SPS115(D15), TGLA126 (D20S1), TGLA122 (D21S6) demonstrated their informative value and reasonability of their use for genetic monitoring of buffaloes in Ukraine with the purpose of developing selection programs of keeping and breeding this species.