Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy

The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic diversity of the Nero d’Aspromonte (NA) pig population. NA is a subpopulation derived from the Apulo Calabrese (AC) breed that has been reared in total isolation within the Polsi area of Aspromonte, Calabria, Italy. NA is traditionally recognised...

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Main Authors: Ervin Shishmani, Valentino Palombo, Giuseppina Schiavo, Siria Tavaniello, Mengjun Wu, Marisa Palazzo, Giuseppe Maiorano, Luca Fontanesi, Mariasilvia D’Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2398777
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author Ervin Shishmani
Valentino Palombo
Giuseppina Schiavo
Siria Tavaniello
Mengjun Wu
Marisa Palazzo
Giuseppe Maiorano
Luca Fontanesi
Mariasilvia D’Andrea
author_facet Ervin Shishmani
Valentino Palombo
Giuseppina Schiavo
Siria Tavaniello
Mengjun Wu
Marisa Palazzo
Giuseppe Maiorano
Luca Fontanesi
Mariasilvia D’Andrea
author_sort Ervin Shishmani
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic diversity of the Nero d’Aspromonte (NA) pig population. NA is a subpopulation derived from the Apulo Calabrese (AC) breed that has been reared in total isolation within the Polsi area of Aspromonte, Calabria, Italy. NA is traditionally recognised and used by local farmers for the production of typical products. The growing interest in this subpopulation has led local farmers to create a cooperative to promote NA pig meat and help preserve the cultural heritage associated with this local population. A total of 40 NA pigs were included in our study and genotyped with the Illumina GGP Porcine array. Admixture, TreeMix, and run of homozygosity (ROH) analyses were performed to investigate genetic diversity within the NA subpopulation and its relationship with the AC breed and other Italian pig breeds. The NA population clearly originated from the AC breed. The lower inbreeding and average ROH size in NA compared to AC may indicate that NA differentiated from the original AC genetic pool with the contribution of admixture from other genetic backgrounds in addition to the effects of genetic isolation and genetic drift. The analysis of the genetic diversity of the NA subpopulation showcases the utility of genomic analyses to reconstruct the genetic history of local populations. A specific conservation program for this genetic resource may further support the sustainable development of local pig production systems based on traditional farming practices as a part of agricultural cultural heritage.
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spelling doaj-art-020bd56b5b544e8bb106238b7ef924102025-01-02T11:34:22ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2024-12-012311358137210.1080/1828051X.2024.23987772398777Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern ItalyErvin Shishmani0Valentino Palombo1Giuseppina Schiavo2Siria Tavaniello3Mengjun Wu4Marisa Palazzo5Giuseppe Maiorano6Luca Fontanesi7Mariasilvia D’Andrea8Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di BolognaDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di BolognaDipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del MoliseThe aim of this study was to investigate the genomic diversity of the Nero d’Aspromonte (NA) pig population. NA is a subpopulation derived from the Apulo Calabrese (AC) breed that has been reared in total isolation within the Polsi area of Aspromonte, Calabria, Italy. NA is traditionally recognised and used by local farmers for the production of typical products. The growing interest in this subpopulation has led local farmers to create a cooperative to promote NA pig meat and help preserve the cultural heritage associated with this local population. A total of 40 NA pigs were included in our study and genotyped with the Illumina GGP Porcine array. Admixture, TreeMix, and run of homozygosity (ROH) analyses were performed to investigate genetic diversity within the NA subpopulation and its relationship with the AC breed and other Italian pig breeds. The NA population clearly originated from the AC breed. The lower inbreeding and average ROH size in NA compared to AC may indicate that NA differentiated from the original AC genetic pool with the contribution of admixture from other genetic backgrounds in addition to the effects of genetic isolation and genetic drift. The analysis of the genetic diversity of the NA subpopulation showcases the utility of genomic analyses to reconstruct the genetic history of local populations. A specific conservation program for this genetic resource may further support the sustainable development of local pig production systems based on traditional farming practices as a part of agricultural cultural heritage.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2398777autochthonous breedconservation geneticslocal meat productssus scrofasnp array
spellingShingle Ervin Shishmani
Valentino Palombo
Giuseppina Schiavo
Siria Tavaniello
Mengjun Wu
Marisa Palazzo
Giuseppe Maiorano
Luca Fontanesi
Mariasilvia D’Andrea
Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
Italian Journal of Animal Science
autochthonous breed
conservation genetics
local meat products
sus scrofa
snp array
title Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
title_full Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
title_fullStr Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
title_full_unstemmed Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
title_short Genetic characterisation of the Nero d’Aspromonte pig population in Southern Italy
title_sort genetic characterisation of the nero d aspromonte pig population in southern italy
topic autochthonous breed
conservation genetics
local meat products
sus scrofa
snp array
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2398777
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