Genome scan linkage analysis identifies a major quantitative trait loci for fatty acid composition in longissimus dorsi muscle in an F 2 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-2\ intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs. Methods: Eighteen FA composition traits were measured in more than 960 F-2 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 genomewide 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 (F-value = 97.2 under additive and dominance model, nominal p-value 3.6x10(-39)) accounted for 16.9% of phenotypic variance. In addition, four more QTLs for C18: 1, C18: 2, C20: 4, and mono-unsaturated 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.