Studies on the Phylogenetic Relationships of the Japanese Native Fowl Breeds

3. Genetic distances among the 16 breeds based on 16 loci, and their dendrogram

Abstract

Blood samples taken from 602 fowls of 24 Japanese native fowl breeds were analyzed for protein polymorphisms using starch gel or agarose gel electrophoresis. The genes on 8 loci, i.e. Ct, Akp, Akp-2, Amy-1, Es-1, Alb, Pas A and Tf, are polymorphic and other genes on 8 loci, i.e. Grb I, Grb II, LDH-A, LDH-B, MDH, GPI, To and Hb, are monomorphic. Genetic distances among 16 main Japanese native fowl breeds of Onagadori (long tailed fowl, 1), Shokoku (long saddle, 2), Totenko (long saddle and long crower, 3), Ohiki (long saddled bantam, 4), Uzurao (rumpless, 5), Tosajidori (small Japanese old style, 6), Gifujidori (medium Japanese old style, 7), Oshamo (Japanese game, 8), Koshamo (Japanese game bantam, 9), Chabo (Japanese bantam, 10), Tomaru (long crower, 11), Minohiki (long saddle, 12), Satsumadori (Japanese new game, 13), Koeyoshi (long crower, 14), Jitokko (creeper, 15) and Ukkokei (silkie, 16) were calculated based on the frequencies of genes on 16 loci using NEI'S equation10). A dendrogram was drawn by adopting the unweighted-pair group (UPG) method of clustering in numerical taxonomy by SNEATH and SOKAL6). A closer relationship was observed between Onagadori And Totenko than between Onagadori and Shokoku. It is plausible that Totenko was more possible ancestor of Onagadori.