Genome-Wide Association Study of Pectoral Muscle and Leg Muscle Traits in Guizhou Qiandongnan Xiaoxiang Chicken

Pectoral muscle and leg muscle traits are critical indicators affecting broiler production. Identifying genetic loci and candidate genes significantly associated with pectoral muscle and leg muscle traits can provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of these traits. In this study ,a total of 181 Qiandongnan xiaoxiang chickens were collected as experimental material，And right pectoral muscle and leg muscles were weighted for genome-wide association analysis . GWAS was performed using PLINK software, and SNP loci were annotated using ANNOVAR to identify loci and candidate genes significantly associated with pectoral muscle and leg muscle weights. The heritabilities for pectoral muscle and leg muscle weight were 0.53 and 0.48, respectively . GWAS identified PHF11, KIF25, and KIRREL3 as potential candidate genes for pectoral muscle weight, while CELSR1, UPK1B, LMBR1, and SYCP2L emerged as potential candidates for leg muscle weight. This study provides theoretical references for genetic improvement and molecular marker-assisted breeding of pectoral muscle and leg muscle weight in Qiandongnan xiaoxiang chickens.