QTL analyses of general compound, color, and pH traits in breast and thigh muscles in Korean native chicken

- QTLs for meat quality-related traits were identified using Korean native chicken population.
- QTL mapping was performed by half-sib and full-sib models for 13 meat quality traits.
- A total of 20 QTLs regions were identified in general meat compounds, meat color and pH traits.
- Crude protein was the highly significant QTL in breast and thigh muscles.

Meat quality is one important selection criterium to consumers. In Asian countries, demands for native chicken breeds with better meat quality-related traits are increasing. In this study, 13 meat quality related traits in Korean native chicken were collected to identify QTLs that could affect the traits. A total of 20 novel QTLs, including 6 for general meat compounds (GC), 7 for the meat color (MC), and 7 for pH were identified. Significant QTLs (i.e., 1% chromosome wide significance) for crude protein contents in thigh and breast muscles were identified. Other QTLs were also identified with suggestive significance levels (i.e., 5% level of chromosome wide significance). Results presented here could provide useful information to find causal variants to improve meat quality traits in chicken.