Association analysis between microsatellite marker polymorphism and body size trait of Qinghai Bactrian camels

Abstract

17 microsatellite markers were used in this study to analyze genetic diversity of Qinghai Bactrian camels, conduct association analysis between microsatellite markers and body size or other traits and seek for microsatellite markers related to body size measurement of Qinghai Bactrian camels, thus providing a reference for marker assisted selection of Qinghai Bactrian camels. Results indicated that 17 microsatellite markers totally detected 65 alleles, average number of alleles was 3.0524, average heterozygosity was 0.6205 and average polymorphic information content was 0.5813, showing high polymorphism among the Qinghai Bactrian camel population. Association analysis results indicated that 8 microsatellites—LCA82, CMS18, CMS36, CMS104, CVRL101, YWLL29, YWLL36 and YWLL44—exerted different influences on body weight and body size of Qinghai Bactrian camels, especially LCA82 marker had a significant influence on all body sizes of Qinghai Bactrian camels. Specifically speaking, body height of BB genetic type was significantly higher than that of AA genetic type, chest circumference of BB genetic type was higher than those of AA genetic type and BD genetic type, body length and body weight of BB genetic type were significantly higher than those of AC, BD and AA genetic types, and circumference of cannon bone of BD genetic type was significantly higher than that of AA genetic type. 8 markers—LCA82, CMS18, CMS36, CMS104, CVRL1010, YWLL29, YWLL36 and YWLL44—had significant influences on chest circumference and body weight of Qinghai Bactrian camels. Markers LCA82, CMS36 and YWLL44 had significant influences on their body height, and microsatellite markers LCA82, CMS36, CVRL101 and YWLL44 could exert influences on body length of Qinghai Bactrian camels.