Application of the study of DNA to knowledge of the genetic structure of the red partridge (Alectoris rufa, L.)

Paper presented at the III Ibero-American Symposium on the Conservation of Local Animal Genetic Resources and Sustainable Rural Development

Abstract

The number of wild red-legged partridges in fields has decreased so it has been necessary to breed them in captivity for restocking. Some farms has hybridized red-legged partridges with other species such as chukar partridge or rock partridge to increase their productivity. A genetic methodology to detect hybrid individuals has been developed to avoid damage in the genetic heritge of pure red-legged partridges due to restocking with such individuals. RAPD methodolody has been used after some trials with different primers until repetible different patterns for red partridges and other species are obtained. Diagnostic bands for other species have been used to detect hybrid animals aming wild partridges as well as among captive reared partridges. This methodology has shown to be very useful to identify not pure individuals and thus farmers will be able to eliminate them.