Validation of the QTL on SSC4 for meat and carcass quality traits in a commercial crossbred pig population

Abstract

Porcine chromosome 4 harbours many quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting meat quality, fatness and carcass composition traits, detected in resource pig populations previously. However, prior to selection in commercial breeds, QTL identified in an intercross between divergent breeds require confirmation, so that they can be segregated. Consequently, the objective of this study was to validate several QTL on porcine chromosome 4 responsible for meat and carcass quality traits. The experimental population consisted of 14 crossbred paternal half-sib families. The region of investigation was the q arm of SSC4 flanked by the markers S0073 and S0813. Regression analysis resulted in the validation of three QTL within the interval: Minolta a* loin, back fat thickness and the weight of trimmed ham. The results were additionally confirmed by factor analysis. Candidate genes were proposed for meat colour, which was the most evident QTL validated in this study.

Genome‐wide population structure, homozygosity, and heterozygosity patterns of Nero Siciliano pig in the framework of Italian and cosmopolitan breeds

“…The SSC11 island spanning between 33.8 and 36.5 Mbp was a specific region of Nero Siciliano that partially overlapped the ROH island reported by Schiavo, Bovo, Bertolini, et al (2020) in another sample of this breed and Italian Landrace. ITNS showed a homozygous hotspot on SSC4, one of the most studied chromosomes in the pig genome (Ma et al, 2010), which harbour several QTL linked to pork quality and carcass traits (Slawinska et al, 2009). SSC4 island in ITNS (97.3–99.0 Mbp) was already reported in Large White and Nero Siciliano (Schiavo, Bovo, Bertolini, et al, 2020) and counted 18 genes with different functions.…”

A quantitative trait locus for a primary antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin on chicken chromosome 14—Confirmation and candidate gene approach

“…Confirmation is an independent validation of a QTL in a separate population. Quantitative trait loci confirmation studies have been performed in cattle (Allan et al, 2009;Awad et al, 2010), pigs (Sławinska et al, 2009), and salmon (Houston et al, 2008;Moen et al, 2009). Several validation studies have been conducted for chicken.…”