Effect of PMEL17 Plumage Colour Gene Diversity on Production Performance of Indigenous Chicken Variety of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: An adaptive meat and egg type indigenous chicken is crucial for countries those depends on rural poultry production for meeting the protein requirements of the peoples. Genetic characterizations of native chickens have been documented, however, no study has observed the plumage colouration and its potential role in production traits. Thus, the aim of the current study was to know the effect of PME17, plumage colour gene diversity on production performance of indigenous chicken varieties.Methods: The plumage colours, comb and body shape of chickens corresponds with the live weight and egg production (clutch size) and the egg characteristics were recorded. Gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed from blood cell DNA following standard protocols. The PCR products were sequenced using Sanger sequencing and for molecular analysis MEGA6 software were used. Result: Highest live weight (1400±25.4 g) and egg production (15.3±0.9 /number /clutch) was obtained in spotted-single-round chicken than other varieties. Both external and internal egg characteristics differed between varieties and spotted- single-round variety found to be best than other varieties. The sequence of PMEL17 gene was 99% homology with the sequence of Gallus gallus and Gallus gallus domesticus. A mutation was observed at 91bp nucleotide in brownish and at 64bp positional nucleotide and in black-white chicken variety.