The estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) plays a crucial role in the growth and development of follicles and ovulation in chickens. The aim of this study was detect the association of estrogen receptor 2(ESR2) gene polymorphisms with the production performance of brown local Iraqi chicken. A total of 104 hens from the F4th generation of local chicken selected for high egg yield were used. The novel SNP(G40100A) transition within third prime untranslated region (3 prime UTR) of ESR2 gene. Three genotypes were found: Wild(GG), Heterozygous(GA), and Homozygous(AA) through (PCR-DAN sequencing). Chi-square analysis showed no significant  in genotypic and allelic frequencies for SNP which were agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The genotypes GG and GA were significantly superior  with age at sexual maturity compared to AA genotype. The genotype GA was significantly associated with hen day egg production (HDEP) at 30 weeks compared to genotype AA, as well as the genotype GA  highest significant variance was reported comparing with the GG genotype in HDEP at 45 and 60 weeks, thus, the study recommends to exploit this ESR2 gene polymorphism (G40100A) as promising marker in breeding program via, the selection of individuals carrying the genotype GA, characterized by the high egg production.

The estrogen receptor 1(ESR1) and fork-head box L2 (FOX L2) genes play a pivotal role in regulation of egg formation in poultry. this study aimed to investigate interaction between ESR1 and FOXL2 in the productive performance of brown local Iraqi chickens (BLIC). A total of 104 BLIC represented from the F4th generation of local chicken selected for high egg productions were used. Two novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), one of them in ESR1 (T57198C) intron 3, and another of FOX L2 (C919T) gene within encoding region were identified through PCR-DNA sequencing. Six haplotypes (H1=TTCC, H2=TTCT, H3=TCCC, H4=TCCT, H5=CCCC, H6=CCCT) were obtained due to interaction between these two SNPs. Chi-square analysis showed no significant  in genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNP which revealed that both genes were agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis of haplotypes with production traits revealed that individuals have H4 genotype achieved higher body weight at sexual maturity, at 60 weeks of age and egg weight at 45 and 60 weeks of age, whereas, the higher number of eggs were exhibited in individual with H6 from onset egg till 60 weeks of age. The two haplotypes; H4(TCCT) and H6(CCCT) showed better combination than others with respect to production performance. In conclusion, our findings provided new evidence that the two genes (ESR1 and FOXLl2) with special interaction may have potential effects on productive traits of chickens and beneficial effects in laying breeding programs.

The estrogen receptor 1(ESR1) and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) plays a crucial role in the growth and development of follicles and ovulation in chickens. Fork-head box L2 (FOX L2) gene and its protein is active in several tissues, such as the ovaries, it has a pivotal role in ovarian development and function, like regulation of egg formation in poultry. This study aimed to detect the polymorphism of ESR1, ESR2 and, FOXL2 genes and investigate interaction between ESR1 and FOXL2 in the productive performance of brown local Iraqi chickens (BLIC). A total of 104 BLIC, at 17 weeks of age. Four novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). Every polymorphism a number had been given according to its location within gene, one of them in ESR1 (T57198C) intron 3 with three genotypes: Wild(TT), Heterozygous(TC),and Homozygous(CC), and two SNPs within ESR2 were assessed, one of the identified SNPsT39565C transition located within intron 7 with two alleles(T and C)and three genotypes were found: Wild(TT), Heterozygous(TC),and Homozygous(CC), another SNPG40100A transition within (3 prime UTR), with two alleles (G and A)and three genotypes were found: Wild(GG), Heterozygous(GA)and Homozygous(AA) and the SNP in FOXL2 (C919T) gene with two genotypes: Wild(CC) and Heterozygous(CT) within encoding region were identified through PCR-DNA sequencing. An interaction between the ESR1 and FOXL2 genes has been proposed, and six haplotypes (H1=TTCC, H2=TTCT, H3=TCCC, H4=TCCT, H5=CCCC, H6=CCCT) were obtained due to interaction between these two SNPs. Chi-square analysis showed no significant in genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNP which revealed those genes were agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis of haplotypes with production traits revealed that individuals have H4 genotype achieved higher body weight at sexual maturity, at 60 weeks of age and egg weight at 45 and 60 weeks of age, whereas, the higher number of eggs were exhibited to individual with H6 from onset egg till 60 weeks of age. The two genotypes; TCCT and CCCT showed better combination than others with respect to production performance. In conclusion, our findings provided new evidence that the two SNPs (ESR1 and FOXLl2) with special interaction may have potential effects on productive traits of chickens and beneficial effects in laying breeding programs.