Abstract: This study detected gene polymorphisms of follicle-stimulating hormone β (FSHβ),in which 1 SNP in intron 1 region was found,and 2 genotypes were detected,respectively,for genotype AA and AB by means of PCR-SSCP technique with 109 Wenchang chickens in Hainan as experimental animals. To conduct correlation analysis among different genotypes and egg production (NE),the number of abnormal eggs (ENA),body weight (BW),and age at first egg (AFG),the results showed that NE of AA genotype chicken individual was more 9.54 than that of AB genotype;ENA of AA genotype was less 1.54 than that of AB genotype;AFG of AA genotype was 2.97 days earlier than that of AB genotype,and the difference was not significantly (P＞0.05). At 22 to 26, 27 to 30 and 31 to 34 weeks of age, the egg production of AA genotype chicken was obviously higher than that of the AB genotype, and the difference was significantly(P＜0.05).At 18 to 21 and 35 to 39 weeks of age, the egg production of AA genotype chicken also was obviously higher than that of the AB genotype, but the difference was not significantly(P＞0.05).BW of AA genotype was higher than that of AB genotype at 6,8,14,20 weeks of age,but BW of AA genotype was higher than that of AB genotype at 18 weeks of age,both of the differences were not significantly (P＞0.05). In general,A allele of the FSHβ gene did not significantly impact on NE,ENA,BW and AFG.

Key words: Wenchang chickens; PCR-SSCP; SNP; FSHβ gene