Comparative transcriptome analysis of abalone Haliotis discus hannai with green and gray egg colors

Haliotis discus hannai is an important marine economic species in China.Its egg color was found to be associated with economic traits,which provides a new idea for breeding.However,the molecular mechanism of the egg-color formation has not been reported.Thus,the pigment composition and comparative transcriptome analyses of H.discus hannai with green and gray egg color were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and RNA-Seq methods.Results show that individuals with green and gray eggs both possess the fucoxanthin.Lutein existed in gray-egged individuals,but not in green-egged individuals.In transcriptome analysis,272310 unigenes were received from 461162 transcripts with a mean length of 985 bp and N50 of 1524 bp,respectively.A total of 185 unigenes were identifi ed as diff erentially expressed genes(DEGs).The DEGs involved in“fl avin-containing compound metabolic process”,“melanosome”,“glutathione metabolism”,and“cytochrome b6f complex”were likely related to the formation of the egg color.Our results provide foundational information for the functional analysis of egg-color related genes and are benefi cial to the selective breeding of H.discus hannai.

Egg color polymorphism and morph-ratio variation in Korean populations of the Vinous-throated Parrotbill

Understanding the occurrence of multiple distinct phenotypes in a population of a species,i.e.,polymorphism,is one of the challenges encountered in evolutionary biology.Egg color polymorphism in birds is one example of morphological polymorphism and disruptive selection has been proposed as a hypothetical mechanism to explain its occurrence.We studied how polymorphic egg colors(immaculate blue and white) occur in Korean populations of the Vinous-throated Parrotbill(Paradoxornis webbianus).Egg color ratios(the proportion of nests with blue eggs in a population) were monitored over a large spatial scale and egg colors were quanti ed using a spectrophotometer.We found egg color ratios to vary spatially among populations.Interestingly,there was a latitudinal morph-ratio cline in egg color ratios.e proportion of nests with blue eggs increased considerably with the latitude declined towards the southern part of the Korean peninsula.ere were some quantitative variations in egg colors among populations.However,the pattern of variations was not consistent with those of the population egg color ratios.Based on these results,we discuss a potential scenario for the evolution of egg color polymorphism in the Vinous-throated Parrotbill.

Last but not the least: effects of laying sequence on egg color variation and embryonic development of Russet Sparrow(Passer cinnamomeus)

Background: Laying sequence has important effects on eggshell color and embryonic development in birds. Some birds can allocate resources unevenly among the eggs within a clutch, prioritizing those at the beginning of the laying sequence, in order to maximize reproductive success. The changes in egg color according to laying sequence may be an adaptation to pressure from predators or brood parasites.Methods: In this study, effects of laying sequence on egg color and embryonic heart rate in Russet Sparrows(Passer cinnamomeus) were investigated using artificial nest boxes. The eggs were divided into three groups: first to be laid, intermediate in the laying sequence, and last to be laid. We maintained the eggs in an incubator and measured embryonic heart rates.Results: Avian visual modeling showed that the background color brightness of the last eggs laid was significantly higher(whiter) than those of the other eggs. All eggs were about the same size and hatched around 13 days, indicating that laying sequence significantly affected embryonic development speed; the last eggs to be laid developed significantly faster than did the first in the clutch.Conclusions: Our study quantified the effect of laying sequence on egg color variation and proved that laying sequence has an important effect on embryonic heart rate in Russet Sparrows.

Recognition and rejection of foreign eggs of different colors in Barn Swallows

Brood parasitic birds lay eggs in the nests of other birds,and the parasitized hosts can reduce the cost of raising unrelated offspring through the recognition of parasitic eggs.Hosts can adopt vision-based cognitive mechanisms to recognize foreign eggs by comparing the colors of foreign and host eggs.However,there is currently no uniform conclusion as to whether this comparison involves the single or multiple threshold decision rules.In this study,we tested both hypotheses by adding model eggs of different colors to the nests of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)of two geographical populations breeding in Hainan and Heilongjiang Provinces in China.Results showed that Barn Swallows rejected more white model eggs(moderate mimetic to their own eggs)and blue model eggs(highly non-mimetic eggs with shorter reflectance spectrum)than red model eggs(highly nonmimetic eggs with longer reflectance spectrum).There was no difference in the rejection rate of model eggs between the two populations of Barn Swallows,and clutch size was not a factor affecting egg recognition.Our results are consistent with the single rejection threshold model.This study provides strong experimental evidence that the color of model eggs can has an important effect on egg recognition in Barn Swallows,opening up new avenues to uncover the evolution of cuckoo egg mimicry and explore the cognitive mechanisms underlying the visual recognition of foreign eggs by hosts.

Visual modeling reveals cryptic aspect in egg mimicry of Himalayan Cuckoo(Cuculus saturatus) on its host Blyth's Leaf Warbler(Phylloscopus reguloides)

Brood parasitism and egg mimicry of Himalayan Cuckoo（Cuculus saturatus） on its host Blyth＇s Leaf Warbler（Phylloscopus reguloides） were studied in south-western China from April to July 2009.The cuckoo laid a white egg with fine brown markings on the blunt end.The eggs were conspicuously bigger than the host＇s own,with 2.06 g in mass and 1.91 cm3 in volume.Visual modeling showed that the cuckoo eggs,which from the human eye appeared to mimic the host eggs to a great extent,were completely different from the host eggs in both hue and chroma.The characters of the Himalayan Cuckoo nestling,reported for the first time,included two triangular and black patches on its gape,which appeared from four days old and became darker with age and growth.While this character also exists in nestlings of Oriental Cuckoo（C.optatus）,it has not been found for other Cuculus species.Our results reveal cryptic aspects in the cuckoo-host egg color matching,which are not visible to the naked human eye,and indicate that high mimetic cuckoo eggs rejected by hosts,as determined by human observers in previous studies,might not be mimetic as birds see them.

Eggs mimicry of Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) utilizing Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis alphonsianus) host

Polymorphism in egg coloration is prominent in the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and a common host, the Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis alphonsianus). Egg polymorphism has probably evolved as a consequence of frequency-dependent selection in both host and parasite, and has, according to human vision, resulted in discrete immaculate white, pale blue and blue egg phenotypes within a single population. However, egg mimicry assessment is not always straightforward, and previous studies have shown that human based comparisons applied to the coloration of bird eggs may be inadequate. Here, we objectively quantify egg color of both parasite and host by spectrophotometry and assess egg mimicry of the Common Cuckoo to the eggs of its Ashy-throated Parrotbill host. Our results revealed that egg reflectance spectra agree well with the assessment based on human vision that cuckoo eggs mimic those of the parrotbill host, in both visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) ranges. However, the white cuckoo egg shows slightly poorer mimicry than the blue cuckoo egg in corresponding host clutches. We suggest that the white parrotbill egg morph (and subsequently the whitish cuckoo egg color) may have evolved after the evolution of the blue egg morph due to strong selection from parasites in the cuckoo-parrotbill system.

SLCO1C1和SLCO4C1基因与绿壳蛋鸡不同产蛋期壳色相关性研究

为探究SLCO家族基因与绿壳蛋壳色的关系,试验以产绿壳蛋母鸡为试验样本,分别收集产蛋前期(150日龄)和产蛋后期(500日龄)的鸡蛋、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肌肉、卵巢、壳腺组织和血样样品,采用色差仪测定壳色数值;ELISA方法检测血清中血红素加氧酶1(HO-1)的含量;利用荧光定量PCR测定HO-1和SLCO家族基因的表达。结果显示:产蛋前期蛋壳L*值极显著低于产蛋后期(P<0.01),而b*值极显著高于产蛋后期(P<0.01);产蛋前期血清中HO-1含量和壳腺中HO-1表达量极显著高于产蛋后期(P<0.01);SLCO1C1和SLCO4C1在壳腺中特异性表达,SLCO1A2在肝脏中特异性表达;产蛋前期SLCO1C1和SLCO4C1 mRNA表达量显著高于产蛋后期(P<0.05)。结果表明HO-1基因表达与酶活性下降造成绿壳蛋鸡壳色变浅,SLCO1C1和SLCO4C1可能是胆绿素合成和转运的重要基因。

Why cuckoos should parasitize parrotbills by laying eggs randomly rather than laying eggs matching the egg appearance of parrotbill hosts?

The coevolutionary interaction between cuckoos and their hosts has been studied for a long time, but to date some puzzles still remain unsolved. Whether cuckoos parasitize their hosts by laying eggs randomly or matching the egg morphs of their hosts is one of the mysteries of the cuckoo problem. Scientists tend to believe that cuckoos lay eggs matching the appearance of host eggs due to selection caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs.In this paper, we first review previous empirical studies to test this mystery and found no studies have provided direct evidence of cuckoos choosing to parasitize host nests where egg color and pattern match. We then present examples of unmatched cuckoo eggs in host nests and key life history traits of cuckoos, e.g. secretive behavior and rapid egg-laying and link them to cuckoo egg laying behavior. Finally we develop a conceptual model to demonstrate the egg laying behaviour of cuckoos and propose an empirical test that can provide direct evidence of the egg-laying properties of female cuckoos. We speculate that the degree of egg matching between cuckoo eggs and those of the host as detected by humans is caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs, rather than the selection of matching host eggs by cuckoos. The case of Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus) and their parrotbill hosts(Paradoxornis alphonsianus), where it has been shown that both have evolved polymorphic eggs(mainly blue and white), was used to develop a conceptual model to demonstrate why cuckoos should utilize parrotbill hosts by laying eggs randomly rather than laying eggs matching the appearance of host eggs.In conclusion, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that cuckoos lay eggs based on own egg color matching that of the parrotbill-cuckoo system. We argue theoretically that laying eggs matching those of the hosts in this system violates a key trait of the life history of cuckoos and therefore should be maladaptive.

密蒙花干粉对产蛋鹌鹑蛋黄颜色、脂肪含量、生产性能、蛋品质及血清生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究密蒙花干粉对鹌鹑蛋黄颜色、蛋中脂肪含量、生产性能、蛋品质及血清生化指标的影响。选择90日龄健康鹌鹑600只,按体重相近原则随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复40只鹌鹑。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,CK1组和CK2组在基础饲粮中添加5%、10%密蒙花干粉。预试期7 d,正式试验期30 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,CK2组蛋黄颜色极显著加深(P<0.01),CK1组和CK2组平均蛋重显著升高(P<0.05),平均日采食量、料蛋比显著降低(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,试验组蛋黄占比均显著升高(P<0.05),甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)含量显著降低(P<0.05),谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性及血糖(GLU)含量显著降低(P<0.05)。研究表明,饲粮中添加5%和10%密蒙花干粉能够改善蛋黄颜色,提高生产性能和蛋品质,改善血清生化指标,且添加10%的密蒙花干粉效果较好。

日喀则市不同羽色藏鸡产蛋性能和蛋品质比较分析

试验旨在筛选优良藏鸡品种,将日喀则市常见藏鸡根据羽毛颜色分成黑羽、白羽、红羽和黄羽4种羽色,分别测定产蛋性能和蛋品质,为培育优良蛋用型藏鸡品种提供技术支持。选取4种羽色的150日龄藏鸡各160只,按羽色分成4个组,采用立体式3层笼养模式,每组8个重复,试验周期为30 d,4个试验组均饲喂基础蛋鸡日粮,测定指标包括产蛋性能、蛋品质以及蛋壳颜色。结果显示:4种羽色藏鸡产蛋性能比较,平均产蛋率黑羽组显著高于黄羽组和红羽组(P<0.05),平均蛋重和平均料蛋比黄羽组和红羽组显著高于黑羽组和白羽组(P<0.05),成活率差异不显著(P>0.05);蛋品质指标方面,蛋壳强度和蛋形指数指标各组之间差异不显著(P>0.05),蛋壳厚度各组之间差异显著(P<0.05),蛋白高度方面,黑羽组显著高于白羽组、红羽组和黄羽组(P<0.05)。哈夫单位方面,黑羽组、白羽组和红羽组显著高于黄羽组(P<0.05),黑羽组略优于其他组;蛋壳颜色指标,亮度各组之间差异不显著(P>0.05),红度和黄度红羽组显著高于其他3组(P<0.05)。结果表明:黑羽藏鸡蛋壳为白色,产蛋性能和蛋品质优于其他3种羽色,适合向蛋用型藏鸡方向进一步选种选育。

戟状斑纹家蚕品种“豫芸×星戟”的育成

河南省蚕业科学研究院利用杂交和回交等育种方法,系统选育出卵色呈青色、灰色的中系品种豫芸和蚕体为戟状斑纹的日系品种星戟,并组配成二元杂交组合豫芸×星戟。2021—2023年实验室鉴定的结果,豫芸×星戟五龄经过8 d13 h、全龄经过26 d11 h,死笼率10.38%,虫蛹生命率86.97%,茧层率24.57%,万蚕收茧量16.204 kg,茧丝长1185.5 m,解舒率70.40%,干毛茧出丝率41.50%,茧丝纤度2.988 dtex,洁净91.50分,清洁99.7分。2022—2023年农村鉴定的结果,豫芸×星戟五龄经过8 d8 h、全龄经过26 d18 h,死笼率13.36%,虫蛹统一生命率85.67%,茧层率21.757%,万蚕收茧量16.398 kg,茧丝长1066.6 m,解舒率52.57%,干毛茧出丝率36.82%,茧丝纤度2.896 dtex,洁净93.00分,清洁99.7分。该品种已通过河南省蚕桑品种审定委员会的审定。

色温可调孵化器照蛋系统的设计

针对孵化器设备中照蛋系统光线色温单一的问题,设计了一种色温可调孵化器照蛋系统,选用LED光源作为照蛋系统光源,根据孵化器孵化室的孵化容量设计样板,样板贴片不同色温值的光源,测试光源为单一色温值时的样板色温参数和不同色温值光源混光后的样板色温参数,完成半导体孵化器照蛋系统的设计。实验结果表明,该设计在照蛋时可以产生从暖色温到冷色温范围更大的色温区间,满足了不同孵化期、不同观察需求对照蛋系统灯光色温的要求,实现了对不同色温区间集成的照蛋功能,有利于大规模推广。

五倍子提取物对蛋鸡的产蛋性能和蛋品质及血液生化指标的影响

挑选1500只34周龄罗曼粉蛋鸡,随机均分为3个处理组,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂添加了300 mg/kg的五倍子单宁酸(GTA)和没食子酸丙酯(PG)的基础饲粮,预试期1周,正试期8周,探究饲喂GTA和PG对产蛋高峰期蛋鸡的产蛋性能、蛋品质及血液生化指标的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,饲粮添加GTA和PG对蛋鸡产蛋性能无显著影响;饲粮添加GTA能显著改善试验8周时的蛋黄着色,但饲粮添加GTA和PG对蛋白高度、哈氏单位、蛋黄比例、蛋壳强度和蛋壳厚度均无显著影响;饲粮添加GTA能显著降低蛋鸡血浆中总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(ALB)、球蛋白(GLB)和胆固醇(TC)的含量,有降低葡萄糖(GLU)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL–C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL–C)水平的趋势;饲粮添加PG能显著降低血浆TP和ALB水平,有降低GLU、GLB、TG、TC和HDL–C水平的趋势;饲粮添加GTA和PG对蛋鸡血清肝损伤指标(谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶活性)和抗氧化指标(超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性和丙二醛含量)均无显著影响,但饲粮添加GTA能显著降低血清细胞炎症因子(白细胞介素–1、白细胞介素–6、肿瘤坏死因子–α)水平,饲粮添加PG可提高血清免疫球蛋白Y、M质量浓度。可见,在本研究条件下,饲粮中添加300 mg/kg的GTA和PG对罗曼粉蛋鸡的产蛋性能无显著影响,但GTA能提高蛋黄着色;饲粮添加GTA下调蛋鸡血脂、血浆蛋白及血清炎症因子水平的作用均大于PG的;饲粮添加PG可提升机体的免疫水平。

基于转录组测序筛选鸡蛋绿壳性状相关基因

【背景】绿壳蛋深受消费者喜爱,蛋壳绿色的深浅在市场上是影响绿壳蛋定价销售的重要参考指标。绿壳蛋的形成受多基因共同调控,蛋壳绿色深浅不一,其分子机理尚不清楚。通过对赤水乌骨鸡蛋壳腺组织进行转录组测序,挖掘其调控绿壳蛋蛋壳颜色深浅的候选基因以及关键信号通路,探究影响蛋壳颜色遗传性,以期发展绿壳蛋的选种选育和提高经济效益。【目的】探讨赤水乌骨鸡的遗传基础,并通过SLCO1B3基因分型对其进行鉴定和筛选,以期通过分子标记在青壳鸡育种规划中提供新的见解,并在后期的选择策略中帮助控制和提高赤水乌骨鸡蛋壳品质的同质性。【方法】以纯系的280日龄赤水乌骨鸡为研究对象,屠宰产浅绿色蛋(QL)和深绿色蛋(SL)的母鸡各3只,采集蛋壳腺以RNA-seq技术检测分析,筛选与蛋壳颜色密切相关的差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs),并对这些DEGs进行GO和KEGG富集分析。利用qRT-PCR技术检测与蛋壳颜色相关的6个候选基因的转录水平变化以验证转录组数据可靠性。【结果】在深绿组与浅绿组中共筛选到93个显著DEGs,有59个基因在深绿组中显著上调,34个显著下调。DEGs注释到GO数据库进行比对,主要显著性富集的是钠离子转运、负离子结合、肌质网膜等。KEGG分析富集程度最显著的是醛固酮调节钠的重吸收,以及富集的矿物质吸收、亚油酸的新陈代谢等信号通路。通过qRT-PCR验证,结果显示这些基因的表达趋势与转录组的测序结果一致。【结论】经功能分析,TF基因、SCNN1家族基因、CYP450家族基因、SLC家族基因和FAM家族基因,以及醛固酮调节钠的重吸收信号通路参与蛋壳色素合成、转运和沉积。上述基因和信号通路可能是影响赤水乌骨鸡蛋壳绿色深浅不一的候选基因和关键信号通路。

Diversity of parasitic cuckoos and their hosts in China

In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the literature. In total, we found that 11 species of cuckoos utilized altogether 55 host species. These hosts belong to 15 families, in which Sylviidae, Turdidae and Timaliidae account for 22.6%, 20.8% and 17.0% of parasitism records, respectively. The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) had the widest range of host species, accounting for 45.5% of the total number of parasitized species (25 in 10 families) of all parasitism records and is the most frequent brood parasite in the country. Cuckoo species differed in their egg coloration and the extent of egg polymorphism with most of them, e.g. the Common Cuckoo, the Lesser Cuckoo (C. poliocephalus) and the Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) laying well mimetic eggs with respect to their hosts based on human being’s visual observations, while others such as the Large Hawk-cuckoo (C. sparverioides), the Himalayan Cuckoo (C. saturatus) and the Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus) usually laid non-mimetic eggs. The use of cuckoo hosts and egg color variation in China are compared with those in other parts of their ranges in Asia.

利用光纤光谱仪量化和分析鸟类的卵色

在国内首次利用光纤光谱仪对乌卵的颜色进行量化和分析。通过对灰林鸥（Saxicola ferrea）和矛纹草鹛（Babax lanceolatus）2种鸟的卵色300～700nm的光谱测量，表明这2种鸟除蓝色色度外，二者卵色在亮度、绿色、黄色以及红色色度上均存在显著差异。灰林鸥和矛纹草鹛卵色的可见光反射光谱反射比值呈现很相似的平行关系，拥有共同的高峰和低峰；而其卵色的紫外光部分呈现从差异大到差异小的变化。用主成分分析光谱的反射和形状，结果对于灰林瞎和矛纹草鹛，前3个主成分分别解释了99．9％和99．8％的光谱变量，其中代表鸟卵亮度的第1主成分分别解释了93．7％和89．3％的变量，代表卵色饱和度的第2主成分分别占总变量的5．5％和9．1％。利用光纤光谱仪对鸟卵的颜色进行定量分析，可为鸟类的区系分类、系统进化和行为生态学等方面的研究提供更客观和科学的数据，同时也拓展了新的研究领域和视角。

紫花苜蓿草粉对产蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及蛋黄颜色的影响

选择健康 35周龄新罗曼商品代蛋鸡 76 8只 ,采用 2× 4因子试验设计方法 ,分别在饲粮中添加 0 %、3%、5 %、7%的苜蓿草粉和 1.6 %和 2 .4 %的油脂 ,试验期 6 0d ,观测紫花苜蓿草粉和油脂对产蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及蛋黄颜色的影响。结果表明 :(1)添加苜蓿草粉和油脂后 ,对产蛋率、采食量、蛋重、料蛋比均无显著影响。从添加草粉对蛋鸡生产性能的影响看 ,饲粮中以添加 5 %草粉最为适宜。 (2 )添加苜蓿草粉和油脂后 ,蛋形指数、蛋黄指数、蛋壳相对重均无显著差异 ,但蛋壳厚度、哈夫单位有较大增加 ;添加苜蓿草粉对产蛋鸡蛋品质的影响优于油脂。 (3)添加苜蓿草粉组的蛋黄颜色均极显著高于不添加组 ,且随着添加量的增加 ,蛋黄颜色呈上升趋势 ;随着添加时间推移 ,到 30d时蛋黄颜色趋于稳定。添加油脂对蛋黄颜色无显著影响。 (4)添加苜蓿草粉后 ,经济效益显著提高。故结合生产实际 ,建议在产蛋鸡饲粮中添加 5 %的苜蓿草粉为宜。

腌制条件对皮蛋品质的影响

以鲜鸭蛋为原料,采用浸泡腌制法,研究腌制温度、腌制液碱度、硫酸锌及氧化钙的用量对皮蛋感官品质、质构特性和化学成分含量的影响。结果表明,采用较高的腌制液碱度和温度腌制所制得的皮蛋的蛋清粘壳,其弹性和咀嚼性较差,皮蛋黄的色层不明显,涩、辛辣味较重,但皮蛋清和皮蛋黄中游离氨基酸、水溶性蛋白、钙离子及锌离子含量较高;采用较低的腌制液碱度和温度腌制所制得的皮蛋的蛋清不粘壳、弹性较好,皮蛋黄的色层明显,具有皮蛋清香的味道,皮蛋中的游离氨基酸、水溶性蛋白、钙离子及锌离子含量都适中。硫酸锌和氧化钙的用量对皮蛋清咀嚼度的影响显著,当硫酸锌的添加量为0.3%、氧化钙的添加量为0.5%时,皮蛋清的咀嚼度最大。在工业化生产皮蛋时,建议选用腌制温度20℃、腌制碱度4%、硫酸锌添加量0.3%和氧化钙添加量1%作为腌制条件。

茶叶种类及添加量对皮蛋品质的影响

以鲜鸭蛋为原料,采用浸泡腌制法,研究皮蛋腌制料液中添加的茶叶种类及其添加量对皮蛋品质的影响。结果表明,添加3%的红茶,皮蛋的离壳性好,蛋清呈透明红褐色,弹性好,咀嚼度高,蛋黄墨绿色,小溏心,色层明显且均匀,口感好,pH值及总碱度均符合国标要求,游离氨基酸含量较高。

褐壳蛋蛋壳颜色与鸡蛋品质相关性分析

研究旨在分析褐壳鸡蛋蛋壳颜色与鸡蛋各品质性状的相关性。选取北京市华都峪口禽业有限责任公司培育的褐壳蛋鸡纯系4个品系为试验材料,测定36周龄和56周龄时鸡蛋的蛋壳颜色、蛋壳强度、蛋壳厚度、蛋形指数、蛋重、蛋黄颜色、蛋白高度和哈夫单位,研究蛋壳颜色深浅与鸡蛋品质的相关性。结果表明:4个品系在36周龄和56周龄时,蛋壳颜色与蛋壳强度、蛋壳厚度呈中低度相关,且不同品系、不同周龄相关程度不同,蛋壳强度和蛋壳厚度随着蛋壳颜色变浅呈现降低的趋势。而蛋壳颜色与蛋形指数、蛋重、蛋黄颜色、蛋白高度和哈夫单位不相关。