Molecular characterization of Asian Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus asiae) from Western Himalaya based on mitochondrial control region.

Five species of francolins extend their range up to Indian sub-continent viz., Asian Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus asiae), Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus interpositus), Chinese Francolin (F. Pintadeanus), Painted Francolin (F. pictus), Swamp Francolin, (F. gularis). So far, as per currently available records only two species, Asian Black Francolin and North Indian Grey francolin of genus Francolinus have been reported from Western Himalayan region. Being a game bird, these are under several anthropogenic threats in this region, with very less demographic or molecular data available. The present work aimed to study molecular polymorphism pattern in the Control Region gene (of mitochondrial DNA) so as to obtain some initial data on genetic diversity and probable genetic structure of the population of black francolin in this region. Overall 24 samples were collected from five sites located at different altitudes. We detected 12 polymorphic sites in an average 575bp fragment obtained for the mtDNA Control Region. The average nucleotide frequencies were A=24.54%, T/U=30.03%, C=31.06% and G=14.37% and Transition/Transversion bias (R) of 2.79 suggesting this is a recently evolved group or slowly evolving genes. These findings will provide a base line data for future studies on population as well as conservation genetics of francolins from this region.