Genomic selection in plant breeding: from theory to practice

Area of Science:

• Plant breeding
• Genetics
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Complex crop traits (yield, quality, stress tolerance) are controlled by numerous genes with small effects, challenging traditional breeding methods.
• The decreasing cost of DNA marker information necessitates advanced selection strategies.
• Traditional marker-assisted selection (MAS) has limitations for polygenic traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles of genomic selection (GS).
• To summarize key findings from recent theoretical, simulation, and empirical studies on GS.
• To identify future research needs and implications of GS for long-term crop improvement.

Main Methods:

• Genomic selection (GS) utilizes genome-wide marker data to predict breeding values.
• GS employs all marker data as predictors, moving beyond identifying individual significant loci.
• Review of existing literature encompassing theoretical, simulation, and empirical research on GS.

Main Results:

• Genomic selection (GS) enhances prediction accuracy for complex polygenic traits compared to traditional MAS.
• GS enables more rapid and cost-effective genetic gains in crop breeding programs.
• Empirical studies demonstrate the practical utility of GS in accelerating the development of improved crop varieties.

Conclusions:

• Genomic selection (GS) represents a paradigm shift in plant breeding for complex traits.
• Further research is needed to address methodological questions and optimize GS for long-term breeding strategies.
• GS is crucial for accelerating the delivery of crops with enhanced yield, quality, and resilience.