This study compared the free amino acids and volatile compounds of dry-cured loin prepared from three-way crossbred pigs (Landrace× Yorkshire×Duroc, LYD; Yorkshire×Berkshire×Duroc, YBD) produced from the LY and YB maternal lines, and further investigated the relationship between crossbreds and the measured parameters. Free amino acids were broadly higher in YBD than in LYD (p<0.05). Volatile compounds differed by chemical family: alcohols and ketones were generally higher in YBD, including the amino acid-derived alcohols isopentanol and 2-phenylethanol, whereas the straight-chain aldehydes heptanal and octanal were higher in LYD (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis clearly separated the two crossbreds, with many free amino acids and volatile compounds associated with YBD. Overall, the maternal line shifted the free amino acid and volatile profile of dry-cured loin rather than uniformly raising or lowering it, with YBD characterized by higher free amino acids and amino acid-derived alcohols and methyl ketones, and LYD by lipid-oxidation aldehydes. Whether either profile is preferred, and whether the maternal line improves eating quality, remains to be determined by sensory evaluation.

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
    1. Sample preparation
    2. Physicochemical properties
    3. Free amino acid composition
    4. Volatile compound extraction and injection
    5. GC-MS running condition and qualification
    6. Statistical analysis
Results and Discussion
    1. Physicochemical properties
    2. Free amino acid composition
    3. Volatile compound profile
    4. Multivariate analysis
Acknowledgments
References

• Jin Kyu Seo(Assistant Professor, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea)
• Jeong Uk Eom(Researcher, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea)
• Kang Jin Jeong(Graduate student, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 plus), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea)
• Han Sul Yang(Professor, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 plus)∙Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea) Corresponding author