VARIATION OF THE GROWTH-HORMONE GENE IN RYR-1 GENOTYPED AUSTRIAN PIG BREEDS

Polymorphism in the second intron of the porcine growth hormone gene o f 273 Austrian Landrace and 81 Austrian Edelschwein pigs was investiga ted with a PCR-RFLP-technique. Results showed significantly different genotype patterns between the two breeds. The frequency of the Hae II- allele was significantly (P < 0,001) higher in the landrace than in t he Edelschwein population (0,83 and 0,47 resp.). The Msp I+ allele was predominant in both breeds but signifanctly higher in the Landrace (0 ,98 versus 0,69; P < 0,01). Analyses the Hae II/Msp I locus combinatio n revealed also in breed specific difference. In the Landrace a very l ow interaction was found between the Hae II and ryr I locus, and betwe en Msp I and ryr 1 locus (c. c. = 0,181 and 0,186 resp.). The correlat ion was slightly stronger (c. c. = 0,266) between the ryr 1 and Hae II /Msp I genotypes. No correlation was detected among the three loci in the Edelschwein population.