Genome scan linkage analysis identifies a major quantitative trait loci for fatty acid composition in muscle in an F intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to locate quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing fatty acid (FA) composition in a large F intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs.

METHODS

Eighteen FA composition traits were measured in more than 960 F progeny. All experimental animals were genotyped with 165 microsatellite markers located throughout the pig autosomes.

RESULTS

We detected 112 QTLs for the FA composition; Forty seven QTLs reached the genome-wide significant threshold. In particular, we identified a cluster of highly significant QTLs for FA composition on SSC12. QTL for polyunsaturated fatty acid on pig chromosome 12 (-value = 97.2 under additive and dominance model, nominal p-value 3.6×10) accounted for 16.9% of phenotypic variance. In addition, four more QTLs for C18:1, C18:2, C20:4, and monounsaturated fatty acids on the similar position explained more than 10% of phenotypic variance.

CONCLUSION

Our findings of a major QTL for FA composition presented here could provide helpful information to locate causative variants to improve meat quality traits in pigs.