Linkage and QTL mapping for Sus scrofa chromosome 10

Linkage and QTL maps of Sus scrofa chromosome 10 (SSC10) were constructed by genotyping six microsatellite markers in three F-2 families based on Wild Boar (W), Meishan (M) and Pietrain (P) crosses. The linkage maps were similar for the families and in agreement with the published maps. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) were found in the M x P and W x M families, but not in the W x P family. In both these families, QTLs for the number of teats were mapped on distal SSC10. Further, QTLs in the W x M family affect the weight of head, live weight and carcass weight traits and were mapped proximally on SSC10 near SW830. The QTLs on SSC10 explained up to 6.5% of F-2 phenotypic variance. QTL effects for some traits were overdominant. Except for the weight of head, Wild Boar alleles slightly increased weight traits and, unexpectedly, markedly increased teat numbers in comparison with Meishan alleles. In the M x P family, however, teat number was increased by Meishan alleles.