Genetic Diversity and Autozygosity Estimates in Wild European Boars and Domesticated Pigs

Abstract

Pigs are one of the most widely distributed domestic animals. The study of their genetic diversity and selection loci is of great interest both in the field of genetics and animal breeding, and in the aspect of conservation and development of breeding resources and food security. The aim of the presented work is to evaluate the autozygosity and distribution of autozygosity segments (HBD) in wild boars and pigs of the main commercial breeds: Large White, Landrace and Duroc, and to search for selection loci related to adaptation to habitat conditions and selection pressure. Based on the results of the genome scan, the average autozygosity values in boars and pigs were in the range of 0.23 - 0.29, but in boars about 0.08 of the genome share is covered by HBD segments, presumably originating from ancestors who lived about 206 years ago; in pigs - originating from ancestors who lived about 64 years ago. Only 3 segments met the criteria for top-HBD (frequency of at least 60% and at least 10 SNPs) in boars. In Large White, Landrace and Duroc pigs, 18, 9 and 35 segments were identified, respectively. In general, the analysis of HBD segments showed that they reflect the main breeding strategies aimed at developing commercial pigs.