QTL Analysis of Meat Quality Traits in Korean Native Chicken

Recently, the consumption of poultry meat in Korea has been rapidly increased. Korea native chickens (KNC) have appealed to Korean meat consumers with a excellent meat quality characteristics, such as good tenderness. Nevertheless, studies regarding what genetic factors affect the meat quality of KNC have not yet been sufficiently conducted. Here, we constructed the genetic linkage map for genome-wide QTL analysis using both microsatellite (MS) and SNP markers to cover 27 autosomes and Z chromosome. And then we performed linkage analysis to identify QTL affecting meat quality related traits. In the five lines (Black, Grey-Brown, Red-Brown, White, Yellow-Brown) of KNC, a total of 595 F₁ birds were used for genotype and phenotype collections. Half-sib QTL mapping was conducted using the least squares method in GridQTL program. Here, we report that 11 chromosomes harbored QTL for the meat quality traits: genomic regions on GGA 3, 5, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 32. Additional association analysis revealed 3 SNPs affecting crude fat, crude ash and color of thigh meat traits. For further study, the identification of the positional candidate genes in these QTL regions is conducted to develop the markers associated with meat quality traits in KNC.