Association of melatonin receptors type C (MTNR1C) gene polymorphism with layer economic traits in Rhode Island Red

Meena, R., Kumar, S., Bhanja, S.K., Chaudhary, C. and Aruna, T.S. 2024. Association of melatonin receptors type C (MTNR1C) gene polymorphism with layer economic traits in Rhode Island Red. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 59(3): 375–378. The aim of this study was to assess allelic polymorphism of melatonin receptors type C (MTNR1C) gene and their association with layer economic traits in RIR chicken. Jugular vein was used to collect blood samples from 120 pullets belonging to two hatches. Data were recorded on age at sexual maturity (ASM), body weight at 20 and 40 week of age (BW20 & BW40), egg weight at 28 and 40 weeks of age (EW28 & EW40) and egg production at 40 week of age (EP40). Amplified product was digested with MobI restriction enzyme i.e. reveal the polymorphic pattern. Allele frequencies were observed as 0.29 (A) and 0.71 (B) and genotypic frequencies of AA, BB and AB genotype were 0.04, 0.46 and 0.5, respectively. A significant association was found of MTNR1C-RFLP genotype with ASM (P=0.10). The overall least squares means along with standard error of ASM, EW28, EW40 and EP40 were observed as 186.37±1.67 days, 41.69±00.29g, 48.87±00.21g and 51.06±1.33g respectively. The birds with AB genotype achieved earliest age at sexual maturity (171.42±5.34 days). This study suggested that MTNR1C locus AB RFLP genotype can be used as a potential marker to enhance age at sexual maturity in RIR birds.