Xunhe Huang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Precision Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Resources in Mountainous Areas, Guangdong Innovation Centre for Science and Technology of Wuhua Yellow Chicken, School of Life Science, JiaYing University, Meizhou, China.
Zhuoxian Weng: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Precision Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Resources in Mountainous Areas, Guangdong Innovation Centre for Science and Technology of Wuhua Yellow Chicken, School of Life Science, JiaYing University, Meizhou, China.
Yujing He: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Precision Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Resources in Mountainous Areas, Guangdong Innovation Centre for Science and Technology of Wuhua Yellow Chicken, School of Life Science, JiaYing University, Meizhou, China.
Yongwang Miao: Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
Wei Luo: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiquan Zhang: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Fusheng Zhong: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Precision Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Resources in Mountainous Areas, Guangdong Innovation Centre for Science and Technology of Wuhua Yellow Chicken, School of Life Science, JiaYing University, Meizhou, China.
Bingwang Du: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Precision Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Resources in Mountainous Areas, Guangdong Innovation Centre for Science and Technology of Wuhua Yellow Chicken, School of Life Science, JiaYing University, Meizhou, China.
Black-boned chickens (, herein abbreviated BBCs) are well known for their unique appearance and medicinal properties and have a long breeding history in China. However, the genetic diversity and demographic history of BBCs remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed 844 mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences, including 346 sequences and 498 previously published sequences from 20 BBC breeds. We detected a generally high level of genetic diversity among the BBCs, with average haplotype and nucleotide diversities of 0.917 ± 0.0049 and 0.01422, respectively. Nucleotide diversity was highest in populations from Southwest China (0.01549 ± 0.00026), particularly in Yunnan Province (0.01624 ± 0.00025). Significant genetic divergence was detected between most breeds, particularly between Yunnan chickens and those from all other provinces. Haplogroups F and G had the highest levels of genetic diversity and were restricted to Southwest China, particularly Yunnan Province. Based on neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses, we did not obtain evidence for rapid population expansions and observed similar demographic histories in BBCs and local non-BBCs. Our results suggest that Chinese BBCs have complex breeding histories and may be selected from local domestic chickens. These results improve our understanding of the genetic heritage and breeding histories of these desirable chickens.
