Mitogenome Diversity and Maternal Origins of Guangxi Cattle Breeds.

Simple Summary: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis is a critical tool in assessing the maternal origin, phylogeny, and population structure of domestic animals. Guangxi cattle are located in southernmost China, where the pure Chinese indicine resources might be preserved. In this study, we sequenced the complete mtDNA of three cattle breeds in Guangxi Province for phylogenetic analysis. The aim of this study was to determine the maternal origin and phylogenetic status of Guangxi cattle. Guangxi Province is located in the southernmost region of China, adjacent to the hotspot that is considered to be the putative migratory corridor or domestication area for Chinese indicine cattle. Here, we investigated the evolutionary status of Guangxi native breeds, Longlin (n = 21), Nandan (n = 18), and Weizhou cattle (n = 17) using mitogenome sequencing. Our results show that Bos indicus sub-haplogroup I1a predominates in Guangxi cattle breeds. Population structure by multidimensional-scaling analysis significantly differentiates Weizhou from the other two breeds (Longlin and Nandan). Moreover, the mtDNA haplotype composition and F_ST values indicate that the formation of Longlin and Nandan breeds may have been affected by Indian indicine, whereas, Weizhou island might have preserved pure Chinese indicine cattle due to its geographical isolation. We speculate that following the initial entry of zebu into southern China, the subsequent introgression of Indian indicine may have influenced the matrilineal origin of local breeds in southwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]