A simple crossbreeding experiment between two new synthetic rabbit lines (APRI and Moshtohor) was conducted to estimate the crossbreeding effects (direct additive, maternal additive and heterosis) on post-weaning body weights (BW) at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age and daily weight gains (DG) during the intervals from 4 to 6, 6 to 8, 8 to 10 and 10 to 12 weeks, and to detect the polymorphic associations of the genotypes of GH gene with post-weaning body weight and daily gain traits. Four genetic groups of APRI (A-line), Moshtohor (M-line) and their simple F1 cross (½A½M) in addition to V-line rabbits (as a reference population) were used in this study.
PCR-RFLP technique was applied using BstUI restriction enzyme SNP for genotyping the growth hormone gene (GH) (TT, TC and CC) genotypes. Heritabilities estimated by VCE program for body weights and daily weight gains were mostly low or moderate and ranging from 0.05 to 0.18. The percentages of direct additive effects on body weights were significantly (P