A high-quality assembly reveals genomic characteristics, phylogenetic status, and causal genes for leucism plumage of Indian peafowl

Author:

Liu Shaojuan1,Chen Hao2ORCID,Ouyang Jing2,Huang Min1,Zhang Hui1,Zheng Sumei1,Xi Suwang3,Tang Hongbo2,Gao Yuren2,Xiong Yanpeng2,Cheng Di3,Chen Kaifeng3,Liu Bingbing1,Li Wanbo4,Ren Jun1ORCID,Yan Xueming2ORCID,Mao Huirong3ORCID

Affiliation:

1. College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

2. College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China

3. College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China

4. Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China

Abstract

Abstract Background The dazzling phenotypic characteristics of male Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) are attractive both to the female of the species and to humans. However, little is known about the evolution of the phenotype and phylogeny of these birds at the whole-genome level. So far, there are no reports regarding the genetic mechanism of the formation of leucism plumage in this variant of Indian peafowl. Results A draft genome of Indian peafowl was assembled, with a genome size of 1.05 Gb (the sequencing depth is 362×), and contig and scaffold N50 were up to 6.2 and 11.4 Mb, respectively. Compared with other birds, Indian peafowl showed changes in terms of metabolism, immunity, and skeletal and feather development, which provided a novel insight into the phenotypic evolution of peafowl, such as the large body size and feather morphologies. Moreover, we determined that the phylogeny of Indian peafowl was more closely linked to turkey than chicken. Specifically, we first identified that PMEL was a potential causal gene leading to the formation of the leucism plumage variant in Indian peafowl. Conclusions This study provides an Indian peafowl genome of high quality, as well as a novel understanding of phenotypic evolution and phylogeny of Indian peafowl. These results provide a valuable reference for the study of avian genome evolution. Furthermore, the discovery of the genetic mechanism for the development of leucism plumage is both a breakthrough in the exploration of peafowl plumage and also offers clues and directions for further investigations of the avian plumage coloration and artificial breeding in peafowl.

Funder

Educational Commission of Jiangxi Province of China

Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Computer Science Applications,Health Informatics

Reference134 articles.

1. Is the peacock merely beautiful or also honest?;Gadagkar;Curr Sci,2003

2. A review on Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) Linnaeus, 1758;Kushwaha;J Wildl Res,2016

3. On the current status of Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae): keeping the common species common;Ramesh;J Threat Taxa,2009

4. Morphometric, productive and reproductive traits of Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in Bangladesh;Talha;Int J Dev Res,2018

5. Effects of mating sex ratios in Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) on production performance at Wildlife Research Institute, Faisalabad (Pakistan);Mushtaq-ul-Hassan;Iran J Vet Res,2012

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3