Hierarchical analysis of genetic structure in Spanish donkey breeds using microsatellite markers

The hierarchical population structure of five, native-Spanish donkey breeds (Andaluza, Catalana, Mallorquina, Encartaciones and Zamorano-Leonesa) has been studied using F-statistics. In addition, nine Moroccan asses and 24 Merens breed horses were included in the analysis. Data came from 15 DNA microsatellites. The analysis shows that Spanish donkeys are substructured at both hierarchical levels studied, among breeds and within breeds (between subpopulations). In the whole population, the deficit of heterozygotes was estimated to be about 21%. The fixation indices corresponding to differences between breeds, subpopulations within breeds, and within subpopulations were estimated to be 6.4%, 3.5% and 3.0%, respectively. The dendrogram obtained shows that the Andaluza and the Moroccan ass form a separate cluster from the northern Spanish breeds (Catalana, Encartaciones, Mallorquina and Zamorana-Leonesa). These groupings coincide with those obtained from historical and archaeological data.