Linkage and QTL mapping forSus scrofachromosome 6

Summary Linkage maps have been constructed forSus scrofachromosome 6 (SSC6) based on 17 markers, of which 10 were used in all three F2families of Wild Boar (W), Meishan (M) and Pietrain (P) crosses. The coverage of the linkage maps of SSC6 was almost complete. All loci were ordered identically in the families, but two intervals (RYR1‐A1BG‐EAH,S0146‐S0003‐SW824) differed from published maps. Major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for meat quality, stress resistance and carcass composition explaining up to 59% of F2phenotypic variance have been mapped in the M × P and W × P families centred on the segregatingRYR1T and C alleles. In the W × M family, which was homozygous for theRYR1 Callele, no QTL effects for meat quality and stress‐resistance, but moderate effects for carcass composition have been observed in this region. These findings indicate further loci closely linked with theRYR1or/and further alleles at theRYR1locus, involved in the variation of carcass and growth traits.