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Validated quantitative trait loci for eggshell quality in experimental and commercial laying hens
Author(s) -
TuiskulaHaavisto M.,
Honkatukia M.,
Dunn I. C.,
Bain M. M.,
De Koning D. J.,
Preisinger R.,
Schmutz M.,
Arango J.,
Fischer D.,
Vilkki J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/age.12671
Subject(s) - eggshell , biology , quantitative trait locus , trait , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , marker assisted selection , genetics , snp , single nucleotide polymorphism , ecology , gene , genotype , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , programming language
Summary Compromised eggshell quality causes considerable economic losses for the egg industry. Breeding for improved eggshell quality has been very challenging. Eggshell quality is a trait that would greatly benefit from marker‐assisted selection, which would allow the selection of sires for their direct contribution to the trait and would also allow implementation of measurements integrating a number of shell parameters that are difficult to measure. In this study, we selected the most promising autosomal quantitative trait loci ( QTL ) affecting eggshell quality on chromosomes 2, 3, 6 and 14 from earlier experiments and we extended the F 2 population to include 1599 F 2 females. The study was repeated on two commercial populations: Lohmann Tierzucht Rhode Island Red line ( n = 692 females) and a Hy‐Line White Plymouth Rock line ( n = 290 progeny tested males). We analyzed the selected autosomal QTL regions on the three populations with SNP markers at 4–13 SNP s/Mb density. QTL for eggshell quality were replicated on all studied regions in the F 2 population. New QTL were detected for eggshell color on chromosomes 3 and 6. Marker associations with eggshell quality traits were validated in the tested commercial lines on chromosomes 2, 3 and 6, thus paving the way for marker‐assisted selection for improved eggshell quality.