Microsatellite DNA Markers and Their Correlation with Body Traits in Landrace, Duroc and Henan Western Black Pigs

Twelve microsatellite loci were selected from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to examine the genetic structure and relationship between microsatellite DNA and body traits including height, back height, body length, chest width, chest depth, head Length, Ear area, and forehead width. Twelve microsatellite loci analyzed were polymorphic in Landrace, Duroc and Henan Western Black Pigs. The total number of alleles found for the twelve microsatellite loci amounted to 150.The average expected heterozygositie ranged from 0.1287 to 0.8301 among twelve loci, and the average polymorphic information content ranged from 0.1168 to 0.7894. The results of cluster analysis showed that the genetic distance between Henan Western Black Pigs and Duroc was least 0.1414. Microsatellite loci of SW72 were significantly associated with back height and chest depth (P<0.05), while SO002 were significantly associated with chest depth and head Length (P<0.05). Finally, the results showed that Henan Western Black Pigs has a high level of genetic polymorphism and genetic differentiation. Cluster analysis shows that the relationship between Black Pigs and Duroc is closer. These were significantly associated with body traits in five microsatellite loci, including SW72, SO002, SW632, SO090 and SW1828 (P<0.05). These results provided scientific reference for the further cultivation and utilization of black pigs.