Genetic loci and key candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition in the breast muscle of Sansui ducks identified through GWAS

Abstract Background The composition of fatty acids, particularly the content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), is closely related to meat quality and flavor in ducks. Result In this study, 38 fatty acids were detected in the breast muscle of Sansui ducks, yielding 50 distinct fatty acid composition traits. The results showed that the predominant fatty acids were C18:1n-9, C16:0, C18:2n-6, C18:0, and C20:4n-6. Moreover, the breast muscle of Sansui duck was rich in UFA, accounting for 64.01% of th