Determining the genetic diversity of silkworm lines in Turkey

Authors: EZGİ ODABAŞ, İBRAHİM CEMAL

Abstract: Studies involving molecular genetic characterization of silkworms are quite limited. Therefore, with this study, pure and hybrid silkworm lines raised in Turkey was characterized for the first time by microsatellite DNA markers. Samples were collected from 7 different silkworm lines, of which the pure lines were obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in Bursa and the hybrid ones from Silkworm Cocoon Association of Turkey (Kozabirlik). DNA samples were extracted from silkworm eggs. Genotyping was done by combining a total of 16 microsatellite markers in a single multiplex. Two hundred and eighty-one alleles were observed for 16 microsatellite loci. The highest allele number was observed for the T01CTA07R locus (30), while the highest effective allele number (17.61) and the highest polymorphic information content (0.94) were observed for the FL0612 locus. The expected heterozygosity values (He) were in the range of 0.72 (K02) to 0.95 (FL0612). The highest and lowest observed heterozygosity values (Ho) ranged between 0.52 and 1.00. When all lines were considered a single population, only three of the sixteen loci were in the HWE. As a result of this study, successful genotyping was performed with 16 microsatellite loci combined in a single multiplex using 3 different fluorescent dyes. The high polymorphism values obtained for the loci used showed that these loci can be used effectively in the genetic identification of silkworm breeds or lines. This study is expected to fill in the gaps in the related literature as well as to contribute to the conservation of silkworm local genetic resources.

Keywords: Silkworm, Bombyx Mori, microsatellites, genetic polymorphism, Turkey

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