This study was conducted to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting meat quality in an F 2 reference population of Korean native pig and Landrace crossbreds. The three-generation mapping population was generated with 411 progeny from 38 F 2 fullsib families, and 133 genetic markers were used to produce a sex-average map of the 17 autosomes. The data set was analyzed using least squares Mendelian and parent-of-origin interval-mapping models. Lack-of-fit tests between models were used to characterize the QTL for mode of gene expressions. A total of 10 (32) QTL were detected at the 5% genome (chromosome)-wise level for the analyzed traits. Of the 42 QTL detected, 13 QTL were classified as Mendelian, 10 as paternal, 14 as maternal, and 5 as partial expressed QTL, respectively. Among the QTL detected at 5% genome-wise level, four QTL had Mendelian mode of inheritance on SSCs 5, 10, 12, and 13 for cooking loss, drip loss, crude lipid and crude protein, respectively; two QTL maternal inheritance for pH at 24-h and shear force on SSC11; three QTL paternal inheritance for CIE b and Hunter b on SSC9 and for cooking loss on SSC15; and one QTL partial expression for crude ash on SSC13, respectively. Most of the Mendelian QTL (9 of 13) had a dominant mode of gene action, suggesting potential utilization of heterosis for genetic improvement of meat quality within the cross population via marker-assisted selection.

This study was conducted to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for thirteen growth and meat quality traits in pigs by combing QTL experimental populations. Two F 2 reference populations that were sired by Korea native pig (KNP) and dammed by Landrace (LN) or Yorkshire (YK) were generated to construct linkage maps using 123 genetic markers (mostly microsatellites) and to perform QTL analysis on porcine chromosomes (SSCs)