Genomic selection for wheat traits and trait stability.

Area of Science:

• Plant breeding and genetics
• Agricultural science
• Quantitative genetics

Background:

• Genomic selection (GS) offers a faster, cheaper method for marker-assisted selection in plant breeding.
• Selecting for trait stability is crucial but costly, requiring multi-environment trials.
• Limited research exists on the efficacy of GS for predicting trait stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of genomic selection (GS) for predicting both trait values and trait stability in wheat.
• To assess the potential for simultaneous selection of trait values and stability using GS.
• To investigate the genetic control of trait stability in wheat.

Main Methods:

• Genotyped 273 soft winter wheat lines using 90K SNP markers.
• Phenotyped for four agronomic and seven quality traits.
• Estimated trait stability using Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and Eberhart and Russell regression (ERR) models.

Main Results:

• Genomic selection (GS) accuracy for trait values and stability ranged from 0.33 to 0.67.
• GS accuracy for trait stability exceeded that for trait values for yield and heading date.
• GS successfully predicted trait stability for flour protein, lactic acid, and softness equivalent, indicating genetic control.

Conclusions:

• Genomic selection (GS) is a valuable tool for improving both trait values and trait stability in wheat breeding.
• Breeders can simultaneously select for trait values and stability due to their general independence.
• GS facilitates rapid selection for desirable traits and enhanced stability in wheat, overcoming challenges posed by genotype by environment interactions.