A genome‐wide association study for eumelanin pigmentation in chicken plumage using a computer vision approach

Abstract

Chicken plumage colouration is an important trait related to productivity in poultry industry. Therefore, the genetic basis for pigmentation in chicken plumage is an area of great interest. However, the colour trait is generally regarded as a qualitative trait and representing colour variations is difficult. In this study, we developed a method to quantify and classify colour using an F2 population crossed from two pure lines: White Leghorn and the Korean indigenous breed Yeonsan Ogye. Using red, green, and blue values in the cropped body region, we identified significant genomic regions on chromosomes 33:3 160 480–7 447 197 and Z:78 748 287–79 173 793. Furthermore, we identified two potential candidate genes (PMEL and MTAP) that might have significant effects on melanin‐based plumage pigmentation. Our study presents a new phenotyping method using a computer vision approach and provides new insights into the genetic basis of melanin‐based feather colouration in chickens.

Common Ancestry of theIdLocus: Chromosomal Rearrangement and Polygenic Possibilities

“…It has been reported that mutations in the MTAP gene are associated with nevus count and melanoma development (Kvaskoff et al, 2011). Genomic variants identified in the MTAP are associated with plumage and dermal pigmentation in the F2 population crossed from White Leghorn and the Yeonsan Ogye (Cha et al, 2023; Heo et al, 2023). Functional gene expression analysis of Silkie and White Leghorn chicken embryos during early embryonic stages indicated distinct patterns of MTAP expression.…”

Genomic insights into shank and eggshell color in Italian local chickens

“…A genomic feature related to the role of the genes present in the sexual chromosomes needs to be better investigated. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the Z chromosome in chicken contains the loci directly or indirectly implicated in shank and eggshell color ( Heo et al, 2023 ).…”