MC1R gene in Greek black pigs
The Greek black pig is an indigenous black coated breed raised in Greece since ancient times and it has been the most important livestock in Greece, providing to local people meat and leather thanks to its adaption to harsh environmental conditions. Autochthonous pig breeds are important genetic resources for pig biodiversity and need to be preserved. Nowadays, there are small nuclei of Greek black pigs where evidences of genetic hybridization with wild boars have been observed: thus, this breed is considered endangered. However, there are lack of information about the Greek black pigs phenotypic and genetic characterization. In this study we analysed polymorhisms in MC1R gene associated with coat colour  in a total of 59 Greek black pigs (7 boars and 52 sows). At the MC1R gene, the most frequent allele was the European dominant black ED2 with 0,70 of allele frequency, but we found also all other MC1R alleles, both the domestic ones and the wild type E+, in a heterozigosity state with ED2 in 32 pigs; we moreover found a new variant of ED2 allele which we called ED2var carried by 3 pigs. In conclusion, the quite high genetic variability detected in the MC1R gene reveals the occurrence of introgression events with both wild boars populations and other pig breeds, indicating a history of crossbreeding of Greek black pig breed also due to its semi-extensive breeding system. The genetic characterization of this breed and the detection of breed-specific polymorphisms will be useful for the development of breeding and conservation programs and for the traceability of its derived food products.