• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2008

Abdominal fat characters are complex and economically important in the poultry industry. Their selection may benefit from the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to identify the markers linked to QTL responsible for fatness traits. The Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) were used in the study. A total of 596 individuals from the divergent tails from the 6th to the 10th generations were genotyped at 23 microsatellite markers on chromosome 1. The differences of allele frequencies of all marker alleles between the divergent tails across the five generations were recorded. The allele frequencies of five markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, MCW0036, ADL328 and MCW0115, had significant differences between the two tails in all five generations. The resulting p-values using Fisher's exact test on eleven markers, containing MCW248, MCW0010, MCW0106, LEI0252, LEI0068, MCW0018, MCW0061, LEI0088, MCW200, MCW283 and ROS0025, had a decreasing tendency from the 6th to the 10th generation. Statistical analysis showed that polymorphisms of the eight markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, ROS0025, MCW0115, MCW0010, MCW0036, MCW283, ADL328, were significantly (p<0.0011) or suggestively (p<0.05) associated with abdominal fat content (AFW and AFP) across generations. It is concluded that the eight markers could be associated with the QTL affecting the deposition of abdominal fat in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2020

Objective: Porcine respiratory disease is one of the most important health problems causing significant economic losses. To understand the genetic basis for susceptibility to swine enzootic pneumonia (EP) in pigs, we detected 102,809 single nucleotide polymorphisms in a total of 249 individuals based on genome-wide sequencing data. Methods: Genome comparison of susceptibility to swine EP in three pig breeds (Jinhua, Erhualian, and Meishan) with two western lines that are considered more resistant (Duroc and Landrace) using cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity and F-statistic (F_ST) statistical approaches identified 691 positively selected genes. Based on quantitative trait loci, gene ontology terms and literature search, we selected 14 candidate genes that have convincible biological functions associated with swine EP or human asthma. Results: Most of these genes were tested by several methods including transcription analysis and candidate genes association study. Among these genes: cytochrome P450 1A1 and catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) are involved in fertility; transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 plays a role in meat quality traits; Wnt family member 2, CTNNB1 and transcription factor 7 take part in adipogenesis and fat deposition simultaneously; plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (completely linked to AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, r² = 1) plays an essential role in the successful ovulation of matured oocytes in pigs; colipase like 2 (strongly linked to SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor, r² = 0.848) is involved in male fertility. Conclusion: These adverse genes susceptible to swine EP may be selected while selecting for economic traits (especially reproduction traits) due to pleiotropic and hitchhiking effect of linked genes. Our study provided a completely new point of view to understand the genetic basis for susceptibility or resistance to swine EP in pigs thereby, provides insight for designing sustainable breed selection programs. Finally, the candidate genes are crucial due to their potential roles in respiratory diseases in a large number of species, including human.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.821-828
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• 2004

The increasing apparent photosynthetic rate per leaf area may improve seed yield in soybean. Leaf area, length and width are related to the photosynthetic capability of the plant. In this study, two populations derived from the cross of Keunolkong, Shinpaldalkong and Iksanl0 were evaluated with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to identify length, width and length/width ratio of leaf. Leaf length/width ratio were significantly negative correlation with leaf width in K/S and K/I populations. In the K/S population, two minor QTLs for leaf length (LL) were found on LG Dlb+W and 1. Two QTLs on LG J and L were related to LL in K/I population. Two and three minor QTLs were identified in leaf width with total phenotypic variation of 13% and 18.04 in K/S and K/I populations, respectively. The leaf length/width ratio, two QTLs on LG I and L, and three QTLs on LG Cl, E and L were related to K/S and K/I populations, respectively. Thus it is assumed that the leaf traits are very much dependent on the genotype used and different breeding approach should be considered for the selection of favorite leaf traits in soybean breeding programs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2017

Severe lodging has recurrently occurred at strong typhoon's hitting in recent climate change. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and their responsible genes associated with a strong culm and their pyramiding are important for developing high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance. To identify QTLs for lodging resistance, the tropical japonica line, Chugoku 117 and the improved indica variety, Habataki were selected as the donor parent, as these had thick and strong culms compared with the temperate japonica varieties in Japan such as Koshihikari. By using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in which chromosome segments from the japonica variety were replaced to them from Habataki, we identified the QTLs for strong culm on chrs. 1 and 6, which were designated as STRONG CULM1 (SCM1) and STRONG CULM2 (SCM2), respectively. By using recombinant inbred lines (BILs) derived from a cross between Chugoku 117 and Koshihikari and introgression lines, we also identified the other QTLs for strong culm on chrs. 3 and 2, which were designated as STRONG CULM3 (SCM3) and STRONG CULM4 (SCM4), respectively. Candidate region of SCM1 includes Gn1 related to grain number. SCM2 was identical to APO1, a gene related to the control of panicle branch number, and SCM3 was identical to FC1, a strigolactone signaling associated gene, by performing fine mapping and positional cloning of these genes. To evaluate the effects of SCM1~SCM4 on lodging resistance, the Koshihiakri near isogenic line (NIL) with the introgressed SCM1 or SCM2 locus of Habataki (NIL-SCM1, NIL-SCM2) and the another Koshihikari NIL with the introgeressed SCM3 or SCM4 locus of Chugoku 117 (NIL-SCM3, NIL-SCM4) were developed. Then, we developed the pyramiding lines with double or triple combinations derived from step-by-step crosses among NIL-SCM1 NIL-SCM4. Triple pyramiding lines (NIL-SCM1+2+3, ~ NIL-SCM1+3+4) showed the largest culm diameter and the highest culm strength among the combinations and increased spikelet number due to the pleiotropic effects of these genes. Pyramiding of strong culm genes resulted in much increased culm thickness, culm strength and spikelet number due to their additive effect. SCM1 mainly contributed to enhance their pyramiding effect. These results in this study suggest the importance of identifying the combinations of superior alleles of strong culm genes among natural variation and pyramiding these genes for improving high-yielding varieties with a superior lodging resistance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.772-779
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• 2013

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) plays an important role in genomic selection and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL). In this study, the pattern of LD and effective population size ($N_e$) were investigated in Chinese beef Simmental cattle. A total of 640 bulls were genotyped with IlluminaBovinSNP50BeadChip and IlluminaBovinHDBeadChip. We estimated LD for each autosomal chromosome at the distance between two random SNPs of <0 to 25 kb, 25 to 50 kb, 50 to 100 kb, 100 to 500 kb, 0.5 to 1 Mb, 1 to 5 Mb and 5 to 10 Mb. The mean values of $r^2$ were 0.30, 0.16 and 0.08, when the separation between SNPs ranged from 0 to 25 kb to 50 to 100 kb and then to 0.5 to 1 Mb, respectively. The LD estimates decreased as the distance increased in SNP pairs, and increased with the increase of minor allelic frequency (MAF) and with the decrease of sample sizes. Estimates of effective population size for Chinese beef Simmental cattle decreased in the past generations and $N_e$ was 73 at five generations ago.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1565-1574
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify genetic variants based on RNA-seq data, obtained via transcriptome sequencing of muscle tissue of pigs differing in muscle histological structure, and to verify the variants' effect on histological microstructure and production traits in a larger pig population. Methods: RNA-seq data was used to identify the panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly related with percentage and diameter of each fiber type (I, IIA, IIB). Detected polymorphisms were mapped to quantitative trait loci (QTLs) regions. Next, the association study was performed on 944 animals representing five breeds (Landrace, Large White, Pietrain, Duroc, and native Puławska breed) in order to evaluate the relationship of selected SNPs and histological characteristics, meat quality and carcasses traits. Results: Mapping of detected genetic variants to QTL regions showed that chromosome 14 was the most overrepresented with the identification of four QTLs related to percentage of fiber types I and IIA. The association study performed on a 293 longissimus muscle samples confirmed a significant positive effect of transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 2 (TACC2) polymorphisms on fiber diameter, while SNP within forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) locus was associated with decrease of diameter of fiber types IIA and IIB. Moreover, subsequent general linear model analysis showed significant relationship of FOXO1, delta 4-desaturase, sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1), and troponin T2 (TNNT2) genes with loin 'eye' area, FOXO1 with loin weight, as well as FOXO1 and TACC2 with lean meat percentage. Furthermore, the intramuscular fat content was positively associated (p<0.01) with occurrence of polymorphisms within DEGS1, TNNT2 genes and negatively with occurrence of TACC2 polymorphism. Conclusion: This study's results indicate that the SNP calling analysis based on RNA-seq data can be used to search candidate genes and establish the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. The presented results can be used for future studies evaluating the use of selected SNPs as genetic markers related to muscle histological profile and production traits in pig breeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1471-1477
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• 2017

Objective: Since athletic performance is a most importance trait in horses, most research focused on physiological and physical studies of horse athletic abilities. In contrast, the molecular analysis as well as the regulatory pathway studies remain insufficient for evaluation and prediction of horse athletic abilities. In our previous study, we identified AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) gene which was expressed as alternative spliced isoforms in skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, we validated two AXL alternative splicing transcripts (named as AXLa for long form and AXLb for short form) in equine skeletal muscle to gain insight(s) into the role of each alternative transcript during exercise. Methods: We validated two isoforms of AXL transcripts in horse tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned the transcripts to confirm the alternative locus and its sequences. Additionally, we examined the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts in horse tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Both of AXLa and AXLb transcripts were expressed in horse skeletal muscle and the expression levels were significantly increased after exercise. The sequencing analysis showed that there was an alternative splicing event at exon 11 between AXLa and AXLb transcripts. 3-dimentional (3D) prediction of the alternative protein structures revealed that the structural distance of the connective region between fibronectin type 3 (FN3) and immunoglobin (Ig) domain was different between two alternative isoforms. Conclusion: It is assumed that the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts would be involved in regulation of exercise-induced stress in horse muscle possibly through an $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Further study is necessary to uncover biological function(s) and significance of the alternative splicing isoforms in race horse skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2008

Field resistance is defined as the resistance that allows effective control of a parasite under natural field condition and is durable when exposed to new races of that parasite. To identify the genes for field resistance to rice blast, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring the resistance for races and blast nursery screening in japonica rice cultivars were detected and mapped using SSR markers. QTL analysis was carried out in 190 RILs population from the cross between Suweon365 (moderately resistant) and Chucheong (highly susceptible). Twelve QTLs against nine blast races inoculated were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 12. They explained from 5.1% to 34.9% of total phenotypic variation. Eight QTLs against blast nursery screening in four regions for three years were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 11 and 12. The phenotypic variation explained by each QTL ranged from 4.3% to 37.7%. Three chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) of $BC_2F_6$ by backcross method were developed to transfer the QTLs into the susceptible cultivar Chucheong as a recurrent parent. A CSSL4-1 containing two QTLs qLB6.2 and qLB7 against blast races showed to the reaction of 6 to 7 at blast nursery in two regions for two years. The CSSL4-2 and CSSL93 containing QTLs, qLB11.2 and qLB12.1 of the resistance against leaf blast in blast nursery screening, respectively, had enhanced the resistance for blast nursery screening across two regions and in two years.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.223-234
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• 2013

Poultry industry is abounding day by day as it engrosses less cost of investment per bird as compared to large animals. Poultry have the most copious genomic tool box amongst domestic animals for the detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and marker assisted selection (MAS). Use of multiple markers and least square techniques for mapping of QTL affecting quality and production traits in poultry is in vogue. Examples of genetic tests that are available to or used in industry programs are documented and classified into causative mutations (direct markers), linked markers in population-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the QTL (LD markers), and linked markers in population wide equilibrium with the QTL (LE markers). Development of genome-wide SNP assays, role of 42 K, 60 K (Illumina) and 600 K (Affymetrix$^{(R)}$ Axim$^{(R)}$) SNP chip with next generation sequencing for identification of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been documented. Hybridization based, PCR based, DNA chip and sequencing based are the major segments of DNA markers which help in conducting of MAS in poultry. Economic index-marker assisted selection (EI-MAS) provides platform for simultaneous selection for production traits while giving due weightage to their marginal economic values by calculating predicted breeding value, using information on DNA markers which are normally associated with relevant QTL. Understanding of linkage equilibrium, linkage dis-equilibrium, relation between the markers and gene of interest are quite important for success of MAS. This kind of selection is the most useful tool in enhancing disease resistance by identifying candidate genes to improve the immune response. The application of marker assisted selection in selection procedures would help in improvement of economic traits in poultry.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.712-721
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• 1997

The objectives of this study were; (1) to identify and localize QTLs for resistance to soybean cyst nematode(SCN) race 5 on RAPD map, (2) to idntify the magnitude and mode of inheritance for each QTL, and (3) to identify the best combinations of QTLs for resistance to SCN race 5. Based on the univariate regression analysis, we detected 26 markers(22 RAPD and 4 RFLP) which showed significant association(P<0.05) with resistance to SCN race 5. From MAPMAKER /QTL analysis, we identified two regions (LGC-20 and Group 2) for resistance to SCN race 5. The QTL that was localized at 8.0 cM from pK418C on LGC-20 showed a recessive mode of inheritance and the QTL that was localized between W03 and E02$^3$ on Group 2 showed a dominant mode of inheritance. Two pairs of flanking markers (E02$^3$ and W03, pK418C and pK418E$_1$) and one unlinked RAPD marker, G10$^1$ were used for multiple regression analysis. Marker combination which was composed of 4 markers, E02$^3$, G10$^1$, W03, and pK418E$_1$, explained the highest amount of phenotypic variation by SCN (35.2％). Further research for the identification of QTLs for resistance to SCN race 5 to explain larger portion of phenotypic variation is needed.