Abstract

In this study, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) and signal transducers activators of transcription 5b (STAT5b) gene were studied as candidate gene associated with body weight and reproductive traits of the Jinghai Yellow chicken. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IGFBP-2 and STAT5b genes were examined in both Jinghai Yellow chicken and three reference chicken populations by PCR-SSCP. Two SNPs (T3746TG and CC3753TT) were detected in the IGFBP-2 gene. One SNP (C8066T) was observed in the STAT5b gene. For primer 1, the general linear model analysis showed that Jinghai yellow chickens with FF genotypes had significant effect on hatch weight, egg weight at 300 days and body weight at 300 days than those of the EF genotype and had significant effect on body weight at 8 weeks of age than those of the EE genotype (P < 0.05). For primer 2, Jinghai yellow chickens with CT genotype had significant effect on hatch weight and age at first egg than CC genotype and TT genotype respectively (P < 0.05). SNPs in both IGFBP-2 and STAT5b genes had significant effect on body weight and reproductive traits of the Jinghai yellow chicken than those with either SNP alone. These SNPs may be served as a potential genetic marker for growth and reproduction traits evaluation of the Jinghai yellow chicken.

Key words: Jinghai Yellow chicken, IGFBP-2 gene, STAT5b gene, economic traits, polymorphism.