Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in GHSR, IGFI, cGH and IGFBP2 genes on growth traits in Thai Native Chickens (Chee and Pradu Hang Dam)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to detect the SNPs of GHSR, IGFI, cGH and IGFBP2 genes and their association with growth traits (body weight at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, ADG during 0-4, 0-8, 0-12 and 0-16 weeks of growth) and carcass trait (breast width) of Thai native chickens (Chee and Pradu Hang Dam). Blood samples were randomly collected from 60 chickens/breed. The genotypes were detected using PCR-RFLP methods with specific primers for each gene. A mixed model was used to analyze the associations of candidate genes with growth traits. In Chee, the GHSR gene was not significantly associated with growth traits, while, the IGFI gene was significantly associated with body weight at 12 and 16 weeks of age and ADG during 0-12 and 0-16 weeks of age. The cGH gene was significantly associated with body weight at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age and ADG during 0-4, 0-8, 0-12 and 0-16 weeks of age. However, the implementation of this gene for selection program might not be
complete because it found only 2 genotypes (AG and GG) in this study. The IGFBP2 gene was significantly associated with body weight at 4 weeks of age, ADG during 0-4 weeks of age and breast width at 16 weeks of age. On the other hand, the SNPs in all genes were not significantly associated with any growth traits in Pradu Hang Dam population. Therefore, it was concluded from this study that IGFI and IGFBP2 genes could be apply as candidate gene marker for chicken growth traits in Chee population selection program.