Genetic effect on free amino acid contents of egg yolk and albumen using five different chicken genotypes under floor rearing system

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 8;16(10):e0258506. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258506. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Chicken eggs play an important role as food resources in the world. Although genetic effects on yolk and albumen contents have been reported, the number of chicken genotypes analyzed so far is still limited. To investigate the effect of genetic background on 10 egg traits, 19 yolk amino acid traits, and 19 albumen amino acid traits, we evaluated a total of 58 eggs from five genotypes: two Japanese indigenous breeds (Ukokkei and Nagoya) and three hybrids (Araucana cross, Kurohisui, and Boris Brown) under a floor rearing system. One-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of genotype on 10 egg traits, 8 yolk amino acids (Asp, Glu, Ser, Gly, Thr, Tyr, Cys, and Leu), and 11 albumen amino acids (Asp, Glu, Asn, Ser, Gln, His, Ala, Tyr, Trp, Phe, and Ile) contents. Moderate to strong positive phenotypic correlations among traits within each trait category (size and weight traits, yolk amino acid traits, and albumen amino acid traits), whereas there were basically no or weak correlations among the trait categories. However, a unique feature was found in the Araucana cross indicating moderate positive correlations of amino acids between yolk and albumen. These results suggest that genetic factors can modify not only the size and weight of the egg and eggshell color but also yolk and albumen free amino acids contents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Egg Yolk*
  • Genotype
  • Phenotype

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for the Regional R&D Proposal-Based Program from Northern Advancement Center for Science & Technology of Hokkaido Japan, the Kieikai Research Foundation, and Obihiro City-Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Collaboration Project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.