Abstract: In order to investigate the association between the FTO polymorphism and meat quality traits in pigs, PCR-RFLPs with BstuⅠ and TaiⅠ restriction enzymes were used to analyze genetic diversities of two SNPs at the third exon (c.594C>G) and the fourth intron (g.276G>T) of the FTO gene in Henan western black pigs and Landrace pigs, potential associations between genotypes and six meat quality traits including back fat thickness, pH₁, pH₂₄, drip loss, color score and muscle marbling were investigated. The results showed as follows: The population of Henan western black pigs had medium level of internal genetic variation. Two SNPs (c.594C>G and g.276G>T) of FTO gene had moderate polymorphism. For c.594C>G SNP, the results showed that there were 3 different genotypes (CC, CG and GG) in Henan western black pigs and Landrace pigs. C allele was dominant with the frequency of Henan western black pigs and Landrace pigs of 0.522 7, 0.533 3; the individuals with CG and GG genotype had significantly higher color score than individuals with CC (P<0.05). For g.276G>T SNP, the results showed that there were 3 different genotypes (GG, GT and TT) in Henan western black pigs and Landrace pigs. The T allele was dominant with the frequency of Henan western black pigs and Landrace pigs being 0.574 1, 0.648 1. At the c.594C>G locus, allele G significantly increased meat color, and CG genotype individuals and GG genotype individuals were significantly higher than CC genotype individuals (P<0.05). At the g.276G>T locus, the allele G could increase the backfat thickness, pH₁ and pH₂₄ values, and reduce the drip loss. The results demonstrated that the c.594C>G locus of FTO gene was associated with meat quality traits of Henan western black pigs, whether FTO gene would provide a reference for meat quality traits selection in Henan western black pigs offspring.

Key words: Henan western black pig, fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO), PCR-PFLR, genetic polymorphism, meat quality trait