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ABSTRACT This study aims to characterize Iraqi pigeon breeds’ population structure and genetic diversity using Microsatellite (SSR) markers to obtain detailed insights into their genetic variation, differentiation, and evolutionary dynamics. This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of Iraqi pigeon breeds’ population structure and genetic diversity. The genetic diversity analysis revealed moderate to high allelic diversity, with the number of alleles (Na) ranging from 16 to 25 and the number of effective alleles (Ne) from 11.95 to 20.56. Observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.27 to 0.53, while expected heterozygosity (He) was consistently high (0.92 to 0.95). FST values indicated significant genetic differentiation among pigeon breeds, ranging from 0.40 to 0.54, and gene flow (Nm) values suggested limited migration between subpopulations. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five distinct clusters, explaining 76.02% of the total variance, which reflects pronounced genetic boundaries and distinct genetic identities among the breeds. Genetic structure analysis using admixture with K=3 clusters highlighted distinct ancestral contributions. The genetic distance analysis revealed close genetic relationships among populations like Kirkuk, Baghdad, and Mosul White, with lower genetic distances (0.06 to 0.08). In contrast, Fadadi, Zangi, and Yellow breeds exhibited higher genetic differentiation (distances up to 0.15). The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated significant genetic variation among populations, with a variance component of 10.92 and a Phi-statistic of 0.58, demonstrating moderate to high genetic differentiation and substantial genetic diversity within populations. This comprehensive analysis underscores significant genetic variation and distinct population structures among Iraqi pigeons, with clear differentiation and diverse genetic contributions across breeds. The findings highlight the effectiveness of SSR markers in capturing the genetic landscape, providing essential insights for the conservation and management of genetic diversity within these pigeon populations. This study contributes valuable information for understanding Iraqi pigeon breeds’ genetic dynamics and evolutionary relationships, supporting future genetic and conservation efforts. |
