• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.6
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• 2016

Background: Uncoupling proteins 2 (UCP2) plays an important role in energy regulation, previous studies suggested that UCP2 is an excellent candidate gene for human obesity and growth-related traits in cattle and chicks. The current study was designed to detect the genetic variation of UCP2 gene, and to explore the association between polymorphism of UCP2 gene and growth, carcass and meat quality traits in rabbits. Results: A synonymous mutation in exon 1 and four variants in the first intron of the UCP2 gene were identified by using PCR-sequencing. The synonymous mutation c.72G>A was subsequently genotyped by MassArray system (Sequenom iPLEXassay) in 248 samples from three meat rabbit breeds (94 Ira rabbits, 83 Champagne rabbits, and 71 Tianfu black rabbits). Association analysis suggested that the individuals with AA and AG genotypes showed greater 70 d body weight (P < 0.05), 84 d body weight (P < 0.01), ADG from 28 to 84 days of age (P < 0.05), eviscerated weight (P < 0.01), semi-eviscerated weight (P < 0.01) and semi-eviscerated slaughter percentage (P < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, the individuals with AA and AG genotype had a lower pH value of longissimus muscle (P < 0.01) and hind leg muscle (P < 0.05) after slaughter 24 h. Conclusions: These findings indicated that UCP2 could be a candidate gene that associated with growth performance, body composition and meat quality in rabbits, and this would contribute to advancements in meat rabbit breeding practice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1685-1690
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• 2018

Objective: The pituitary specific transcription factor-1 (Pit-1) gene is responsible for pituitary development and growth hormone expression and is regarded as a pivotal candidate gene for growth and production in chickens. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association of Pit-1 polymorphisms with growth and feed efficiency traits in yellow meat-type chickens. Methods: In the present study, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Pit-1 were selected and genotyped by high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in 724 meat-type chickens. Results: Association analysis showed that rs13687126 of Pit-1 was strongly associated with body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) (p<0.05), and that rs13687128 was significantly correlated with body weight at 70 days of age (BW70), BWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.05). SNP rs13905622 was strongly related to BW70 and FCR (p<0.05). Furthermore, birds with the GG genotype of rs13687126 had larger BWG and FI than those with the AG genotype (p<0.05). Individuals with the TT genotype of rs13687128 were significantly higher BW70 and BWG than those of the CT and CC genotype, while FCR was just the opposite (p<0.05). For rs13905622, the AA chickens showed strongly larger BW70 and lower FCR compared with the AT and TT chickens (p<0.05). Additionally, an ACA haplotype based on rs13687126, rs13687128, and rs13905622 had significant effects on BW70 and FCR (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our studies thus provide crucial evidence for the relationship between polymorphisms of Pit-1 and growth and feed efficiency traits which may be useful for meat-type chicken breeding programs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 1990.05a
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• pp.62-63
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• 1990

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.221-221
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• 2017

This experiment was performed to analyze variation of growth traits of soybean to determine the information of less sensitive traits under different environmental conditions. Sowing was carried out on June 2 each year and the experimental plot was laid out in three replicates by randomized complete block design with thirty soybean varieties which consisted of 19 cultivars for beancurd and soypaste, 8 cultivars for soy-sprout including 1 landrace, and 3 cultivars for cooking with rice including 1 landrace during the period 2014-2015. The weather conditions during the experimental period were quite different with extremely low precipitation and longer sunshine duration in 2015 than 2014. The variation of characteristics related to growth period such as days of growth, days of maturity, days of flowering and the 100-seed weight was less in spite of different environmental conditions. While the variation of the number of pods per plant was high. Considering growth and seed characteristics like the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight which are linked directly to the yield, cultivars such as Shingi, Daewonkong, Danbaegkong, and Daepung for beancurd and soypaste, Pungwon, Haepum and Shingang for soy-sprout and Seoritae for cooking with rice were more stable and could be expected to have high yield in Suwon, the south-central part of South Korea. These results could be useful for the selection of breeding resources to develop cultivars with high stability under changeable weather condition.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

Whilst it is clear that increasing temperatures from global environmental change will impact the positions of alpine treelines, it is likely that a range of regional and local scaled factors will mediate the overall impact of global scale climate drivers. We summarized 12 categories of abiotic and biotic factors as 4 groups determining treeline positions. First, there are global factors related to climate-induced growth limitation and carbon limitation. Second, there are seven regional and local factors related to treeline dynamics including frost stress, topography, water stress, snow, wind, fire and non-fire disturbance. Third, species-specific factors can control treeline dynamics through their influence on reproduction and life history traits. Fourth, there are positive feedbacks in structuring the dynamics of treelines. Globally, the commonly accepted growth limitation hypothesis is that growth at a treeline is limited by temperature. Meanwhile, positive feedbacks between canopy cover and tree establishment are likely to control the spatial pattern and temporal dynamics of many treelines. The presence of non-linear dynamics at treelines has implications for the use of treelines as barometers of climate change because the lagged responses and abrupt shifts inherent in non-equilibrium systems may combine to mask the overall climate trend.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.332-340
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• 2016

Seed size traits are controlled by multiple genes in crops and determine grain yield, quality and appearance. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the size of plant seeds remain unclear. We performed functional analysis of BrPATL4 encoding Sec14-like protein to determine the genetic architecture of seed size, shape and their association analyses. We used 60 $T_3$ transgenic rice lines to evaluate seed length, seed width and seed height as seed size traits, and the ratios of these values as seed shape traits. Pleiotropic effects on general architecture included small seed size, erect panicles, decreased grain weight, reduced plant height and increased sterility, which are common to other mutants deficient in gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. To test whether BrPATL4 overexpression is deleterious for GA signal transduction, we compared the relative expression of GA related gene and the growth rate of second leaf sheath supplied with exogenous $GA_3$. Overexpression of BrPATL4 did not affect GA biosynthesis or signaling pathway, with the same response shown under GA treatment compared to the wild type. However, the causal genes for the small seed phenotype (D1, SRS1, and SRS5) and the erection of panicles showed significantly decreased levels in mRNA accumulation compared to the wild type. These results suggest that the overexpression of BrPATL4 can control seed size through the suppression of those genes related to seed size regulation. Although the molecular function of BrPATL4 is not clear for small seed and erect panicles of BrPALT4 overexpression line, this study provides some clues about the genetic engineering of rice seed architecture.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.461-470
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity, population structure and whole-genome selection signatures of Luxi cattle to reveal its genomic characteristics in terms of meat and carcass traits, skeletal muscle development, body size, and other traits. Methods: To further analyze the genomic characteristics of Luxi cattle, this study sequenced the whole-genome of 16 individuals from the core conservation farm in Shandong region, and collected 174 published genomes of cattle for conjoint analysis. Furthermore, three different statistics (pi, F_st, and XP-EHH) were used to detect potential positive selection signatures related to selection in Luxi cattle. Moreover, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed to reveal the potential biological function of candidate genes harbored in selected regions. Results: The results showed that Luxi cattle had high genomic diversity and low inbreeding levels. Using three complementary methods (pi, F_st, and XP-EHH) to detect the signatures of selection in the Luxi cattle genome, there were 2,941, 2,221 and 1,304 potentially selected genes identified, respectively. Furthermore, there were 45 genes annotated in common overlapping genomic regions covered 0.723 Mb, including PLAG1 zinc finger (PLAG1), dedicator of cytokinesis 3 (DOCK3), ephrin A2 (EFNA2), DAZ associated protein 1 (DAZAP1), Ral GTPase activating protein catalytic subunit alpha 1 (RALGAPA1), mediator complex subunit 13 (MED13), and decaprenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 (PDSS2), most of which were enriched in pathways related to muscle growth and differentiation and immunity. Conclusion: In this study, we provided a series of genes associated with important economic traits were found in positive selection regions, and a scientific basis for the scientific conservation and genetic improvement of Luxi cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1507-1515
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• 2018

Objective: In the poultry industry, the most important economic traits are meat quality and carcass yield. Thus, many studies were conducted to investigate the regulatory pathways during muscle differentiation. To gain insight of muscle differentiation mechanism during growth period, we identified and validated calcium-related genes which were highly expressed during muscle differentiation through mRNA sequencing analysis. Methods: We conducted next-generation-sequencing (NGS) analysis of mRNA from undifferentiated QM7 cells and differentiated QM7 cells (day 1 to day 3 of differentiation periods). Subsequently, we obtained calcium related genes related to muscle differentiation process and examined the expression patterns by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Through RNA sequencing analysis, we found that the transcription levels of six genes (troponin C1, slow skeletal and cardiac type [TNNC1], myosin light chain 1 [MYL1], MYL3, phospholamban [PLN], caveolin 3 [CAV3], and calsequestrin 2 [CASQ2]) particularly related to calcium regulation were gradually increased according to days of myotube differentiation. Subsequently, we validated the expression patterns of calcium-related genes in quail myoblasts. These results indicated that TNNC1, MYL1, MYL3, PLN, CAV3, CASQ2 responded to differentiation and growth performance in quail muscle. Conclusion: These results indicated that calcium regulation might play a critical role in muscle differentiation. Thus, these findings suggest that further studies would be warranted to investigate the role of calcium ion in muscle differentiation and could provide a useful biomarker for muscle differentiation and growth.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2015

Growth rate during rearing, which varies depending on provided nutrition, has been related with age at $1^{st}$ calving (AFC). This study investigated the effect of upgrowth parameters during the rearing period on the reproduction of nulliparous Holstein heifers. The study comprised 77 successively born heifers from the same herd. Growth rate and fertility traits were measured during rearing and fertility parameters were recorded in lactations 1. Growth parameters (body weight, height, heart girth and body length) were measured at the approximate birth time, 270 and 450 d of age. Reproduction data collected included age at $1^{st}$ breeding, number of services per conception (S/C), pregnancy rate to $1^{st}$ artificial insemination, AFC. Animals were subsequently divided into 4 AFC groups for analysis: <23 mo, 23~25 mo, 26~30 mo and >30 mo. The AFC reflected both upgrowth rate and heifer reproduction, with later calving heifers smaller. Increased skeletal growth (at 270 and 450 d) was related with a reduced AFC (p<0.05). Early calving animals (<23 mo) had the best reproduction as nulliparous heifers, with most conceiving at first service (87.5%). Fertility in the first lactation was the worst in the oldest AFC group (>30 mo). In the 1st lactation period, a number of services per conception ($3.1{\pm}0.3$) increased with increasing AFC (>30 mo). Sub-optimal upgrowth related with an increased AFC could be mitigated by improved monitoring of replacement heifers during the rearing period.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2006

Growth and quality of rice are affected by various factors including the location of cultivation. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of altitudinal locations on the growth and yield-related components of rice. Nineteen Japonica type varieties were grown at Iksan (altitude, 10 m), Imsil (altitude, 150 m), Jinan (altitude, 275 m) and Jangsu (altitude, 430 m) at a similar latitude in Jeonbuk province in the south western Korea. Minimum air temperature showed a strong negative correlation with altitude. The morphological traits and yield-and quality-related components were analyzed. Longer days to heading was required at higher altitudes. However, culm length, panicle length, panicle number, grain number and rice yield were reduced at higher altitudes. Protein content of brown rice increased but fatty acid content decreased at higher altitudes. Amylose content was affected by neither the altitude nor the ecotype. Palatability of polished rice tends to be improved at higher altitudes and in early-maturing ecotypes but its relationships with altitude and ecotype were not significant. Head rice ratio was lower at higher altitudes but broken rice ratio vise versa. These results indicate that growth and quality of rice are affected significantly by changes in temperatures at the locations of different altitude. Also, the characters related to yield and quality of rice often respond incompatibly to the changes in altitudes. These results could provide valuable information for the strategic planning of rice production in geographically diverse areas.