Accelerating genetic gain through integrated genomic selection in crop plants

Meeting the projected 70% rise in agricultural output by 2050 to sustain a global population of 9.6 billion poses a formidable challenge amid intensifying biotic and abiotic stresses. Traditional breeding methods, although foundational, are limited in their ability to improve complex polygenic traits such as yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. Genomic selection (GS) has emerged as a transformative approach that leverages genome-wide markers to predict breeding values with higher accuracy and efficiency. Unlike marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which emphasize major-effect loci, GS captures the cumulative contribution of numerous small-effect loci, enabling faster genetic gains for complex traits. This review outlines the conceptual framework, evolution, and integration of GS with cutting-edge technologies such as high-throughput genotyping, phenomics, multi-omics, and machine learning. It also discusses key achievements, implementation strategies, and the potential of GS to enhance selection accuracy, shorten breeding cycles, and develop climate-resilient, high-yielding cultivars. The integration of GS within modern breeding pipelines represents a paradigm shift toward sustainable crop improvement and global food security in an era of climatic uncertainty.