转大麻哈鱼生长激素基因鲤表型性状与体质量的相关性及通径分析

随机选取二龄转大麻哈鱼生长激素基因鲤和对照鲤各30尾,运用相关分析和通径分析的方法研究全长、体长、体高、尾柄高、尾柄长、头长、吻长、眼径、眼间距、体厚10个表型性状对体质量的影响程度,以此确定影响二龄转基因鲤和对照鲤体质量的主要表型参数.相关分析结果表明:转基因鲤和对照鲤的大部分表型性状与体质量间的相关系数均达到极显著水平(P<0.01).通径分析结果显示:体长和体高可以作为预测转基因鲤体质量的主要表型参数,转基因鲤体长对体质量的通径系数为0.572,体高对体质量的通径系数为0.415,体长和体高直接决定体质量;而体厚和头长可以作为预测对照鲤体质量的主要表型参数,对照鲤体厚对体质量的通径系数为0.610,头长对体质量的通径系数为0.377,体厚和头长对体质量具有决定作用.     

母猪生产力性状的遗传分析

对二花脸猪、大白猪及其杂交一代３个群体共１６８６窝的生产力性状资料进行了遗传分析。用公畜模型估计了初生窝重、初生仔猪平均重、２０日龄窝重、２０日龄仔猪平均重、４５日龄窝重、４５日龄仔猪平均重的表型参数和遗传参数。与大白猪相比,二花脸猪抚育能力较强,生长速度较慢。前４个性状受母体影响较大,后２个性状受母体影响较小。６个性状的遗传力分别为０．２５１、０．２７７、０．３４１、０．３３０、０．２３５、０．     

“三黄”鸡采精量和受精率的方差组分估计

用4种方法(Henderson方法Ⅰ、 MIVQUE、ML、REML)估计了两个“三黄”慢羽系的公鸡采精量和种蛋受精率的方差组分,并计算了它们与产蛋性状间的遗传相关。结果表明,采精量为中等到高遗传力性状(h2=0.29-0.3 9);受精率的遗传方差在品系之间存在着较大的差异,L系受精率性状的遗传力低,而Ⅰ系受精率为中等到高遗传力性状。采精量和受精率与开产日龄、 43周龄蛋重以及64周龄产蛋量间遗传相关不显著。此外,还对4种方差组分估计方法和两种数值转换方法的实际效果作了比较。     

大菱鲆幼鱼表型形态性状与体重之间的关系

随机选取1120尾3月龄大菱鲆幼鱼,测量其体长、全长、体高、头长、吻尖至鳃裂前缘长、尾柄长、尾柄高、体厚、体重等9个性状,计算各性状间的相关系数,采用通径分析方法计算以表型形态性状为自变量对体重作依变量的通径系数、决定系数及复相关指数, 对各性状的影响大小进行剖分,明确影响大菱鲆三月龄幼鱼体重的主要外部形态性状,为大菱鲆选育提供理论依据和理想的测度指标.结果表明:所测各表型性状与体重之间的相关系数均达到极其显著水平(P＜0.01＝;全长对体重的直接影响(R=0.702)最大, 对体重的决定程度(R2=51.84%)最高,是影响体重的主要因素;体高、体厚对体重的直接作用 (0.211 ,0.094)相对较小,主要通过体长的间接作用(0.5558,0.4342)影响体重.所选表型性状对体重的回归系数R2=0.911,表明所选性状是影响体重的主要性状.利用逐步回归分析方法建立以体长、体高、体厚为自变量估计体重的多元回归回归方程为:y=-6.216 1.294x1 0.518x2 1.293x3[动物学报 54(3):540-545,2008].     

鸡肉肌苷酸和肌内脂肪等肉品风味性状遗传参数的估计

对鸡肉肌苷酸（Inosine-5¢-Monophosphate,IMP）和肌内脂肪（Intramuscular fat,IMF）等重要肉品风味性状的遗传参数进行了估计,旨在从遗传理论上为确定鸡肉风味品质性状的选育方法提供依据。采用MTDFREML方法对1069只90日龄北京油鸡公鸡的相关性状的遗传力和遗传相关进行了估计,结果表明,胸肌IMP和IMF含量属中等偏低遗传力性状（h2=0.23,0.10）,腹脂重(AFW)、胸肌重(BMY)、胸肌率(BMR)、腿肌重(LMY)、体重(BW)、鸡冠重(CW)和鸡冠率(CWP)的遗传力较高（h2=0.56～0.79）,腹脂率(AFP)、腿肌率(LMR)、睾丸重(TW)和睾丸率(TWP)等性状的遗传力分别为0.24、0.32、0.39和0.35。IMP与胸肌率、腿肌率和尾脂厚呈较低度的表型正相关,与其他性状无明显表型相关;IMF与体重、腹脂率、尾脂厚和脂带宽呈一定程度的表型正相关（rP=0.11～0.33）。IMP与体重和鸡冠率呈中等以上程度的遗传负相关（rA=-0.38,-0.62）,与胸肌率呈较高水平的遗传正相关（rA=0.57）;IMF与体重和腹脂重则呈高度遗传正相关（rA=0.7 5,0.66）,与腹脂率和鸡冠率呈中等水平遗传正相关（rA=0.32,0.40）;IMP与IMF之间呈中低水平的遗传正相关（rA =0.27）。据此推断,可以利用家系法对IMP和IMF含量进行选择提高。     

藕莲种质资源形态与农艺性状的遗传变异分析

藕莲是莲（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.ssp.nucifera）的3种类型之一,在我国作为水生蔬菜栽培的历史愈两千年。对国家种质资源圃中来自17个省和直辖市的68份藕莲资源的19个形态和农艺性状进行了观察,并对其遗传变异进行了分析。结果发现整藕重与主藕重、主藕长和第三节粗成极显著正相关。通径分析结果表明主藕重对整藕重的正向效应最高（0.982）。主成分分析结果显示前4个成分占总变异的77.33%。结果还显示对整藕重负效应最高的是主藕重/整藕重（-0.296）。聚类分析发现所有藕莲资源可分为5组。     

硬头鳟幼鱼部分形态性状和体重的关系

随机选取116尾硬头鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)幼鱼,测量其体长、体高、体厚、头长、眼径和眼间距、体重7个性状,计算各性状间的相关系数,采用通径分析方法计算以表型形态性状为自变量对体重作因变量的通径系数、决定系数及复相关指数,对各性状的影响大小进行剖析,明确影响硬头鳟幼鱼体重的主要外部形态性状,为硬头鳟...     

日粮添加海藻粉和抗菌肽对海兰褐蛋鸡产蛋性能的影响

采用4×2（海藻粉×抗菌肽）完全随机试验设计,研究日粮添加不同水平的海藻粉（0．0％、1．0％、3．0％、5．0％）和抗菌肽（300 mg/kg、600 mg/kg）对蛋鸡不同产蛋期（24～27周龄和28～31周龄）产蛋性能的影响。结果表明：（1）日粮海藻粉的添加水平显著提高了产蛋率和料蛋比（P＜0．05）。（2）抗菌肽添加水平在28～31周龄显著提高了产蛋率（P＜0．05）。（3）海藻粉和抗菌肽互作效应显著提高了产蛋率和料蛋比（P＜0．05）。结果提示,海藻粉和抗菌肽对蛋鸡产蛋性能的影响存在互作效应,以海藻粉5％、抗菌肽300 mg/kg水平组合最为理想。     

应用VCE4.0估计长白猪生长性状的遗传参数

应用PEST和VCE4.0对温氏长白猪的主要生长性状进行了遗传分析。利用温氏水台原种猪场1998～2002年的6344头长白猪生长性能测定记录,运用多性状动物模型REML方法估计主要生长性状的遗传参数。估计遗传力的变化范围为0.207～0.493,性状达30kg体重日龄（AGE30）、达100kg体重日龄（AGE100）、30～100kg平均日增重（ADG）和100kg体重活体背膘厚（FAT）的估计遗传力分别是0.207、0.396、0.304和0.493;FAT/ADG、FAT/AGE100、ADG/AGE100、ADG/AGE30和AGE30/AGE100的各自遗传相关为-0.343、0.180、-0.941、-0.48和0.745;它们的表型相关分别为-0.139、0.138、-0.829、-0.026 和 0.565;AGE30、AGE100、ADG和FAT的窝效应估计结果分别为0.194、0.156、0.157和0.043。     

灰木莲种源幼苗叶片性状表型多样性分析

以越南收集的12个灰木莲（Manglietia conifera Dandy）种源为材料,对叶片形态性状（叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶周长、长宽比、叶柄）以及微形态特征（气孔器密度、气孔器长、气孔器宽、气孔器面积、长宽比）进行测定,采用方差分析、变异系数、相关分析和主成分分析等方法进行分析。结果表明：灰木莲不同种源间的叶表型性状存在显著差异;种源中,LC2的叶形态性状的平均变异系数最大（22.09%）,TQ2的变异系数最小（12.76%）;叶表型性状中,叶面积的变异系数最大（28.60%）,气孔器宽的变异系数最小（5.19%）;相关性分析结果表明叶表型性状间存在显著或极显著的相关关系,而地理因素中经度与叶周长显著相关,经纬度与叶长宽比呈显著相关,海拔与叶表型性状间的相关性不显著（P<0.05）;主成分分析表明前3个主成分的累计贡献率达到了89.29%,基本代表原始性状的全部信息。灰木莲12个种源经聚类分析在欧式距离5阈值处可分为4类。灰木莲种源间的叶表型性状存在着丰富的变异,纬度对灰木莲叶形态特征有明显影响,灰木莲种源间和性状间的变异程度存在着差异,本研究为灰木莲遗传改良提供理论依据。     

Analysis of the laying rhythm and reproductive traits of geese

The aim of the performed investigations was to analyse the laying rhythm and reproductive traits of Ko?uda white geese from the W11 reproduction strain and to determine the heritability of these traits as well as correlations between the laying rhythm traits and reproductive traits. The total number of geese participating in the experiment included 383 one-year old layers from the control flock (the first year of reproductive utilisation). The following traits characterizing the laying rhythm were assessed individually for each layer: the number of 2 and 3-egg clutches or more, length (in days) of 2- or more egg clutches as well as the length of intervals between the laid eggs during the entire laying period. The following reproductive traits were also assessed individually for each bird: age at sexual maturity, initial number of eggs (eggs laid during the period from January, 1st to April, 30th), number of eggs during the whole laying period, laying intensity (the total number of eggs x 100/length of the laying period in days) as well as the length of the reproductive period. It was found that Ko?uda white geese laid most of their eggs (on average 70.2%) singly and not in clutches. With regard to egg clutches, it was found that 2-egg clutches constituted 85.3% of eggs laid in clutches. Moderate or high variability of traits associated with the laying rhythm and reproduction were demonstrated. The observed moderate heritability of the laying rhythm traits indicate that they may be utilised in the selection programs for geese. On the other hand, the reported high, positive genetic correlation coefficients between the number of egg clutches and the initial and total egg number as well as laying intensity confirm the existence of interactions between these traits. This fact may be helpful in breeding programs for determining the optimal selection systems for geese.     

Evidence of Phenotypic and Genetic Relationships between Sociality,Emotional Reactivity and Production Traits in Japanese Quail

The social behavior of animals, which is partially controlled by genetics, is one of the factors involved in their adaptation to large breeding groups. To understand better the relationships between different social behaviors, fear behaviors and production traits, we analyzed the phenotypic and genetic correlations of these traits in Japanese quail by a second generation crossing of two lines divergently selected for their social reinstatement behavior. Analyses of results for 900 individuals showed that the phenotypic correlations between behavioral traits were low with the exception of significant correlations between sexual behavior and aggressive pecks both at phenotypic (0.51) and genetic (0.90) levels. Significant positive genetic correlations were observed between emotional reactivity toward a novel object and sexual (0.89) or aggressive (0.63) behaviors. The other genetic correlations were observed mainly between behavioral and production traits. Thus, the level of emotional reactivity, estimated by the duration of tonic immobility, was positively correlated with weight at 17 and 65 days of age (0.76 and 0.79, respectively) and with delayed egg laying onset (0.74). In contrast, a higher level of social reinstatement behavior was associated with an earlier egg laying onset (-0.71). In addition, a strong sexual motivation was correlated with an earlier laying onset (-0.68) and a higher number of eggs laid (0.82). A low level of emotional reactivity toward a novel object and also a higher aggressive behavior were genetically correlated with a higher number of eggs laid (0.61 and 0.58, respectively). These results bring new insights into the complex determinism of social and emotional reactivity behaviors in birds and their relationships with production traits. Furthermore, they highlight the need to combine animal welfare and production traits in selection programs by taking into account traits of sociability and emotional reactivity.     

Laying characteristics of one- and two-year old pheasants (Phasianus colchicus, L.)

The aim ofthe study was to assess laying traits, the weight of eggs and characters ofthe laying rhythm of pheasants in the first and second years of reproduction. Pheasants (10 cockerels and 50 hens) were kept in aviaries. Daily, individual control of laying was performed beginning with the day of the first laying and ending with the last egg. The following parameters were evaluated: age at first laying, length of the laying period, number of laid eggs and the average weight of the egg in the 8th week of laying. The laying rhythm was also assessed and comprised: the number of egg clutches, the number of eggs in a clutch, the number of eggs in the longest clutch, the number of intervals, the length of intervals and the longest interval between clutches. During the first period of reproduction, in comparison with the second, pheasants laid slightly more eggs of similar average weight. The first laying period was longer than the second and was characterised by a greater number of egg clutches and greater number of intervals between clutches. The greatest number of eggs was laid in 10-egg and longer clutches, although the l-egg clutches were the most numerous. A positive correlation was found between the number of eggs and the number of clutches, the greatest number of eggs in a clutch and the number of intervals between clutches. The similar values of the reproductive characters of one- and two-year old pheasants point to the possibility of longer utilization of these birds than only for one laying period. On the other hand, the considerable variability between the experimental hens with regard to the number and the length of egg clutches, as well as the intervals between them, indicate the possibility to carry out selection taking into account traits characterising the laying rhythm.     

Egg quality of Japanese quail depends on layer age and storage time

The aim of the study was to analyse egg quality changes of Japanese quail during the reproductive season and after several days of storage. A significantly higher egg weight was recorded in week 9 than in week 25 and week 31 of age ofbirds. The egg specific gravity value of eggs also decreased with the age of quails. The smallest yolk weight and its percentage proportion in egg mass were observed in week 25. Eggs laid in weeks 9 and 25 were characterised by similar and lower (P < or = 0.05) white weight in comparison to those examined on the last date. The highest white proportion in egg weight was recorded during the 25th week. The value of this trait was similar or smaller on the remaining dates. Similar and lower values of the white index and Haugh units, in comparison with the first date, were determined in eggs laid on weeks 25 and 31, whereas similar and greater eggshell thickness than in the 9th week of age was recorded on the last two dates of examination. Lower (P < or = 0.05) egg weight was observed after 5 and 8 than after 0 (measured on the day of laying) days of storage. Likewise, smaller egg specific gravity was recorded after three consecutive periods of storage in comparison with the eggs examined on the day of laying. Eggs examined after 3, 5 and 8 days of storage, in comparison with those stored for 0 days, were characterised by lower yolk index. Significantly smaller weight and white index than after 0 days were determined in eggs stored, respectively, for 5 and 8 as well as for 3, 5 and 8 days. Similarly, smaller numbers of Haugh units were determined after 3 consecutive storage periods in comparison with the eggs examined on the day of laying. Eggs stored for 0 and 3 days were characterised by a greater eggshell weight than those examined after 5 and 8 days. The weight of Japanese quail eggs decreased significantly from day 5 onwards, whereas the egg specific gravity-- from the 3rd day of storage. Yolk and white quality began to deteriorate already after 3 days of egg storage. It appears, therefore, that egg storage of Japanese quails before hatching lasting more than 3 days in the analysed conditions deteriorated the eggshell quality and internal egg traits.     

Reproductive variation and adult size in two co-occurring grasshopper species

ABSTRACT. 1. Egg sizes and clutch sizes of the grasshoppers Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.) and Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.) were compared among three years and among three sites less than 1.3 km apart. Relationships between these reproductive traits and date of egg laying, body size and body condition were sought.
2. M.maculatus , the smaller species, laid fewer but larger eggs; and only the eggs of this species showed significant differences between sites and years.
3. A negative correlation between egg size and number per clutch was evident between species and years, but generally not among sites and among individuals of a population.
4. However, a hidden negative correlation between egg size and number was uncovered within populations when the relationship was examined for females of a given mature weight.
5. Variation in the number of eggs per clutch was explained statistically by a positive relationship between female body weight and egg number. Also, both interpopulation and intrapopulation comparisons revealed that for M.maculatus , but not for C.brunneus , females with long hind femurs laid large eggs.     

Egg shell quality in Japanese quail: characteristics,heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic relationships

The objective of the present study was to estimate heritabilities as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations for egg weight, specific gravity, shape index, shell ratio, egg shell strength, egg length, egg width and shell weight in Japanese quail eggs. External egg quality traits were measured on 5864 eggs of 934 female quails from a dam line selected for two generations. Within the Bayesian framework, using Gibbs Sampling algorithm, a multivariate animal model was applied to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for external egg quality traits. The heritability estimates for external egg quality traits were moderate to high and ranged from 0.29 to 0.81. The heritability estimates for egg and shell weight of 0.81 and 0.76 were fairly high. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between egg shell strength with specific gravity, shell ratio and shell weight ranging from 0.55 to 0.79 were relatively high. It can be concluded that it is possible to determine egg shell quality using the egg specific gravity values utilizing its high heritability and fairly high positive correlation with most of the egg shell quality traits. As a result, egg specific gravity may be the choice of selection criterion rather than other external egg traits for genetic improvement of egg shell quality in Japanese quails.     

Ontogenic expression pattern and genetic polymorphisms of the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene in Erlang mountainous chickens

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is the only circulatory transport protein for vitamin A. Based on the essential role of vitamin A in chicken reproduction, we measured RBP4 mRNA abundance in Erlang mountainous chickens. We also identified and analyzed the gene polymorphism and its effect on reproduction traits among 349 chickens. The expression of RBP4 mRNA showed specific developmental changes and striking differences among tissues. The mRNA abundance was greatest (P < 0.05) in the liver, intermediate in the ovary, kidney, small intestine, oviduct and heart, and lowest in the hypothalamus and pituitary, as compared to all other tissues (P < 0.05). We detected one single nucleotide polymorphism (g.19942455C>G) in intron 2 of the RBP4 gene. Three genotypes (CC, CG and GG) were identified, with a significant effect of genotype on the age at first egg (AFE), first egg weight (FEW), total eggs at 300 days (TE300), highest continuous laying days (HCLD) and average laying interval (ALI). The GG genotype, where chickens display earlier AFE, more TE300, longer HCLD and shorter ALI, would be genetically advantageous and its selection may improve reproduction traits. These results suggested that the RBP4 gene might play an important role in reproduction traits in chickens.     

Individual quality and food availability determine yolk and egg mass and egg composition in tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor

Variation in egg size and composition can have important consequences for the quality of offspring. We investigated the factors influencing the yolk mass and egg mass of tree swallows breeding in Ithaca, NY. Using a nondestructive technique to estimate yolk mass via standardized digital-candler photographs, we compared yolk size and egg size of tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor in response to variation in food availability and individual quality. Insect availability one to three days prior to laying, but not four to six days, predicted yolk mass, while insect availability two to three days prior to laying predicted total egg mass. This suggests that, while eggs are formed over longer periods, food availability closer to time of laying has the greatest influence on egg size. These results were supported by collected eggs, as yolk rings revealed that tree swallow eggs are formed over 5–6 days. There was an influence of female quality as well, with early laying birds, independent of food availability, laying larger eggs. Eggs laid later in the laying sequence had larger yolks and greater egg mass. Overall, variation in egg quality appears to be due to a combination of environmental conditions, reflected in food resources, individual quality, and allocation tradeoffs during the laying period.     

Laying, egg and hatchability characteristics in ostrich (Struthio camelus) at different age

The experimental material comprised 7 ostrich families (7 males and 14 females) of which five families were at the age of 7 and two at the age of 5 years. In the course of the entire reproductive season, the following parameters were analysed: length of the laying period, mean laying rate, number of eggs laid by one female, proportion ofhatching eggs, egg weight and shape, egg weight lost during incubation, egg fertilisation, percentage of dead embryos and unhatched chicks, hatchability from fertilised and set eggs. Seven year-old ostriches were characterised by shorter laying period (134 days) but, at the same time, by higher proportions of hatching eggs. This group was also characterised by high egg fertilisation (79.7%) as well as high hatchability indices at simultaneous highest embryo mortality during incubation (11.6 %). Five year-old ostriches exhibited a longer laying period (175 days) during which females laid more eggs (49 pcs.). In addition, this group was characterised by a smaller proportion of hatching eggs, better egg fertilisation indices (83.5%) and hatchability results. Moreover, the determined higher egg shape index indicates that the 5 year-old females laid eggs which were more spherical. Recapitulating, the obtained results indicate that, under Polish conditions, better indices of laying performance, egg fertilisation and hatchability were observed in the group of 5 year-old ostriches.