Variability of Microsatellites and their Association with Egg Production Traits in Chicken

Abstract

The present study was conducted on six crossbred chicken populations of White Leghorn to estimate variability of microsatellites and their association with egg production traits. Five microsatellite markers located on chromosome 1, 2, 5 and 30 were explored and the association study was performed employing least square-maximum likelihood method. All the microsatellites were found to be polymorphic showing three to six alleles in the population. Genotype and allelic frequency was estimated showing a large variability in different microsatellites. The association study of microsatellite variability with egg production traits showed that only ADL023 microsatellite was significantly associated with egg production upto 64 and 72 weeks and egg weight at 28 weeks of age. Genotype 11, 12, 13 and 23 produced more number of eggs at 64 and 72 weeks of age than the genotype 22. Egg weight was higher in genotype 12, 13 and 23 and lower with genotype 11 and 22.