Association Analysis Of Dominant White/KIT Genotype On The Coat Color And Piglet Birth Weight Of Pigs

KIT is one of the critical genes that control pig goat color, and it has mild pleiotropy. In order to explore the effect of KIT gene on pig coat color and piglet birth weight, we examined its variation and its relationship with coat color and piglet birth weight in Duroc×(Landrace×Largewhite) three-way cross pigs (including those complete white individuals and that with black patches), the Landrace pigs, the Large white pigs and the Duroc pigs, via direct sequencing technique, PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism technique (PCR-SSCP) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). The distribution of different KIT alleles in the pigs with different color patterns provided basis for directional selection for coat color and piglet birth weight in pig breeding. Results showed:Genotype detection of KIT gene in Duroc×(Landrace×Largewhite) three-way cross pigs with different coat color patterns: With the help of PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism technique and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, about 100 Duroc×(Landrace×Largewhite) three-way cross pigs with different coat color patterns, 30 Duroc pigs, 30 Landrace pigs and 30 Large White pigs were examined about the variation of intron 17 and intron 18 of KIT gene. It has been shown that both the two mutations, a G→A mutation found in intron 17 and a tetranucleotide (AGTT) deletion found in intron 18, occurred in individuals with black patches, the Landrace pigs and the Large White pigs.The relationship between KIT genotype and piglet birth weight: In order to clarify the effect of different KIT genotypes on piglet birth weight, we determined the different genotypes (II, Ii, and ii) via PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Results showed that the different genotypes were significant differences in the birth weight and ii genotype had the largest piglets birth weight; the correlation between KIT gene and weaning weight was not significant. So it could be inferred here that KIT gene had significant effect on piglet birth weight.