Evaluation of guinea fowls by genetic markers of plumage color

Federal State Budget Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Center “All-Russian Research and Technological Poultry Institute” of Russian Academy of Sciences, 141300, Sergiev Posad, Russia

^* Corresponding author: roiter@vnitip.ru

Abstract

The work was carried out at LLC “Genofond” of the Moscow region on gray-speckled, Zagorsk white-breasted, blue and cream guinea fowls of the VNITIP selection. The bird taken for the experiment was bred in “itself” for a long time and did not give splitting in plumage color. The aim of the work was to find methods for separating guinea fowls by sex at an early age, based on the use of marker genes and their modifiers. It has been established that gray-speckled, blue and Zagorsk white-breasted guinea fowls belong to the eumelanin phenotype in terms of plumage color. The deposition of eumelanin pigment in down and feathers of guinea fowls is controlled by the gene alleles of the E/e locus. Limitation of pigment deposition in feathers, certain parts of the body, Zagorsk white-breasted guinea fowls is determined by the action of the Zn/zn (Zonal) gene, the manifestation of pearl spots is determined by the action of the Sp/sp gene, the autosomal gene Bl (Blokator) determines the saturation of eumelanin colors, and Ig (Inhibitor) blocks the deposition of the pheomelanin pigment. According to the color of the plumage, cream guinea fowls belong to the pheomelanin phenotype and are distinguished by the white-cream color of the plumage. The presence in the plumage of pheomelanin controlled by the genes for silverness “S” and goldenness “s” and the presence of the Ig (Inhibitor) gene blocking the deposition of the pigment pheomelanin in the down and re-determines the autosex color of the plumage. Based on this, the work concluded that cream guinea fowls are promising in creating an autosex cross on their basis.