Selection For Traits Research Articles

Directed Evolution of Microbial Communities in Fermented Foods: Strategies, Mechanisms, and Challenges

Directed Evolution of Microbial Communities (DEMC) offers a promising approach to enhance the functional attributes of microbial consortia in fermented foods by mimicking natural selection processes. This review details the application of DEMC in fermented foods, focusing on optimizing community traits to improve both fermentation efficiency and the sensory quality of the final products. We outline the core techniques used in DEMC, including the strategic construction of initial microbial communities, the systematic introduction of stress factors to induce desirable traits, and the use of artificial selection to cultivate superior communities. Additionally, we explore the integration of genomic tools and dynamic community analysis to understand and guide the evolutionary trajectories of these communities. While DEMC shows substantial potential for refining fermented food products, it faces challenges such as maintaining genetic diversity and functional stability of the communities. Looking ahead, the integration of advanced omics technologies and computational modeling is anticipated to significantly enhance the predictability and control of microbial community evolution in food fermentation processes. By systematically improving the selection and management of microbial traits, DEMC serves as a crucial tool for enhancing the quality and consistency of fermented foods, directly contributing to more robust and efficient food production systems.

Genetic Basis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Alkalinity Tolerance Trait in Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) by Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS).

Given the challenges of overcrowded coastal aquaculture spaces and insufficient production, utilizing saline-alkaline water areas represents a vital strategy to alleviate these bottlenecks. Spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus), with its formidable osmoregulatory capabilities, is an ideal candidate to develop a saline-alkaline tolerant strain. In our study, genotypic and phenotypic data from 287 L. maculatus individuals exposed to carbonate alkaline conditions were collected, and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted to elucidate genetic basis related to carbonate alkalinity tolerance trait. Results showed that 14 SNPs and 8 InDels were markedly related to carbonate alkalinity tolerance trait, and 404 candidate genes were pinpointed within a ± 300-kb region surrounding these variants. Notably, the most significant SNP (SNP_05_17240108), along with two adjacent SNPs (SNP_05_17240102 and SNP_05_17240340) and two InDels (InDel_05_17240228 and InDel_05_17240231), was situated in the intron region of trio gene that could play vital roles in cell remodeling, and cell junction and activity of aquaporins to deal with carbonate alkalinity stress. Furthermore, candidate genes were significantly involved in pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism, cell remodeling, ion transport, and RNA degradation, which were consistent with RNA-Seq analysis results of gills and kidneys in response to alkalinity stress. Our study will contribute to elucidate the genetic basis of alkalinity tolerance and the identified SNPs and InDels could be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) for alkalinity tolerance trait in the breeding programs of spotted sea bass.

Uncovering genetic determinants of antioxidant properties in Thai landrace rice through genome-wide association analysis

Pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.) is recognized as a source of natural antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids, oryzanol, tocopherol, and anthocyanin. Because of their nutritional benefits, anthocyanin-enriched or pigmented rice varieties are feasible alternatives for promoting human health. Pigment biosynthesis in rice is a complex process that involves multiple biosynthetic and regulatory genes. This study aimed to identify the genes associated with antioxidant traits in local Thai rice and develop molecular markers for breeding programs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 233 rice cultivars, 119,541 SNPs from the promoters, and the first 5 exons of all genes were associated with antioxidant phenotypes determined using 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total flavonoid content, and total phenolic content assays through a mixed linear model (MLM) genome-wide association study (GWAS). GWAS analysis detected 336 quantitative trait nucleotides located at 93 loci, 83% of which were consistently mapped to the reported quantitative trait loci of antioxidant traits. Ten loci, including the OsRc gene, were consistently co-associated with all phenotypic traits. Two genetic markers for polymerase chain reaction detection were developed for the OsTT8 gene and the OsRc promoter, both of which were positively correlated with antioxidant properties. These markers can be applied for antioxidant trait selection in rice breeding programs.

Indirect selection for multiple technological and nutritional traits in common bean cultivars under different degrees of multicollinearity

Indirect selection for multiple technological and nutritional traits in common bean cultivars under different degrees of multicollinearity

Quantitative trait loci mapping and genomic selection for leaf-related traits in a ‘Luli’ × ‘Red No. 1’ apple hybrid population

Apple (Malus spp.) is a widely cultivated economic crop. Leaf-related traits, such as leaf size, pigment content, and photosynthetic rate, serve as important indicators of light use efficiency and are associated with apple fruit quality and potential yields. Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes related to these traits is essential for plant breeding. Genomic selection (GS) presents a promising approach, particularly for improving leaf-related traits in apples. This study focused on identifying QTLs and associated genes, and evaluating the use of GS for leaf-related traits in apples. By genotyping an F1 population (‘Luli’ × ‘Red No. 1’) and constructing a high-density linkage map with 3,759 bin markers, 69 QTLs related to leaf traits were identified, explaining 10.4∼17.8% of the phenotypic variance. Forty-six candidate genes were predicted from these QTLs, resulting in 14, 14, 13, and 5 genes for leaf size, pigment content, photosynthetic rate, and fast chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, respectively. The study also assessed the accuracy of GS prediction for leaf traits using genome-wide markers and QTL interval markers through a 10-fold cross-validation. Results indicated that ridge regression BLUP (RR-BLUP) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) methods using QTL interval SNP markers demonstrated higher prediction accuracies compared to whole genome markers for most traits, suggesting the feasibility of employing QTL interval markers for GS prediction. Notably, all models provided valuable genome prediction results with 4K markers or when the training population represented 80% of the total population. These findings significantly contribute to gene discovery and genetic improvement efforts related to leaf traits while highlighting the potential utility of GS in accelerating apple breeding programs.

Müller glia in short- term dark adaptation of the Austrolebias charrua retina: cell proliferation and cytoarchitecture.

Fish with unique life cycles offer valuable insights into retinal plasticity, revealing mechanisms of environmental adaptation, cell proliferation, and thus, potentially regeneration. The variability of the environmental factors to which Austrolebias annual fishes are exposed has acted as a strong selective pressure shaping traits such as nervous system plasticity. This has contributed to adaptation to their extreme conditions including the decreased luminosity as ponds dry out. In particular, the retina of A. charrua has been shown to respond to 30 days of decreased luminosity by exacerbating cell proliferation Now, we aimed to determine the cellular component of the retina involved in shorter-term responses. To this end, we performed 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) experiments, exposing adult fish to a short period (11 days) of constant darkness. Strikingly, in control conditions, neurogenesis in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layer in the differentiated retina was detected. In constant darkness, we observed an effect on inner nuclear layer cell proliferation and changes in retinal cytoarchitecture of the retina with cell clusters located in the inner plexiform layer. Additionally, increased BLBP (brain lipid-binding protein) presence was detected in darkness, which has been previously associated with immature and reactivated Müller glia. Thus, our results suggest that the A. charrua retina can respond to environmental changes via rapid activation of progenitor cells in the INL, namely the Müller glia This leads us to hypothesize, that cell proliferation and neurogenesis might contribute to the responses to the functional needs of organisms, potentially playing an adaptive role.

Multi-environmental traits selection and farmer's participatory assessment of mean performance and stability of orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes in Benin

Multi-environmental traits selection and farmer's participatory assessment of mean performance and stability of orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes in Benin

Phenotypic characterization and principal component analyses of Bangkok chicken in Indonesia

ABSTRACT Bangkok chicken is a significant genetic resource in Indonesia, valued culturally and economically. However, limited reports on its phenotypic diversity risks genetic loss. This study aimed to assess phenotypic characterization of Bangkok chicken through qualitative and quantitative traits. Methods included qualitative classification, morphometric measurements, correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). A T-test analyzed sex differences in body weight and morphometric traits. The research findings revealed that the male Bangkok chickens had 44.16% black-red (black dominant) feather colour and 73.20% yellow shank. Meanwhile, the females had 78% black feather colour and 34% black shank. The pea comb type was dominant in both sexes. The results indicated that the body weight and morphometric traits of male Bangkok were higher than those of females. In the total population, the PC1 accounted for 56.92% of the total variance. Morphometric features, such as breast girth and shank length were strongly correlated with body weight, highlighting their potential as reliable traits for selection and breeding Bangkok chickens. In conclusion, the study identified key phenotypic characteristics, which were body weight, breast girth, and shank length. These traits are strongly correlated and can serve as reliable criteria for selecting and improving Bangkok chicken breeds. Highlight The variation of qualitative traits of Bangkok chickens, consisting of feather colour, shank colour, and comb type, were widely varied across the population. Sexual dimorphism (male and female) affected all the parameters in quantitative traits, and the PCA identified breast girth and shank length as the key potential criteria for selecting Bangkok chicken.

Harnessing Speed Breeding in Controlled Environment Ecosystem for Millets Sustainability

ABSTRACTMillet breeding focuses on improving essential traits such as grain yield, head structure, tiller production, early maturity, reduced plant height, biomass, digestibility and key nutrients like vitamin B1, lysine, cysteine and methionine. Traditional breeding, especially in open environments, can take 9–17 years to release a new variety, whereas speed breeding in controlled environments shortens this to 5–9 years. This accelerated process tackles challenges like male sterility, self‐incompatibility, seed shattering, inbreeding depression and embryo abortion. Techniques such as rapid single‐seed descent enable the creation of near‐homozygous lines in 1–2 years, allowing finger millet to achieve up to five generations per year. Indoor phenotyping platforms enhance speed breeding by providing detailed, consistent monitoring of plant traits. High‐throughput systems in controlled settings like growth chambers or glasshouses allow for non‐invasive assessment of entire crop canopies, measuring traits such as leaf expansion, width, phyllochron and stomatal conductance. This precise phenotyping accelerates trait evaluation and selection, facilitating the development of superior millet varieties. Supported by advanced phenotyping and gene‐editing tools, speed breeding offers a robust solution for improving key agronomic traits, significantly reducing breeding time in controlled environments.

Genetic Parameters and Trait Associations in Wheat Under Drought and Low Nitrogen Conditions

Drought and low nitrogen stress are the leading cause of low crop production and productivity worldwide. Developing drought-tolerant wheat germplasm resilient to low nitrogen conditions is essential through genetic enhancement and selection for novel traits. The objective of the research was to investigate genetic diversity, parameters, and trait relationships within a wheat genotype panel to inform drought- and low-N-tolerant variety selection. This study evaluated 50 wheat genotypes under drought-stressed and non-stressed conditions, with varying nitrogen (50 kg ha−1, 100 kg ha−1, and 200 kg ha−1) levels across four testing sites during the 2019/2020 growing season. Statistical analysis (combined ANOVA) revealed substantial genetic variation (p < 0.05) for the majority of tested traits. High heritability and substantial genetic gain for KPS (97.49%, 28.10% GAM) and SE (96.48%, 14.28% GAM) were determined under drought and low nitrogen stress. Under drought-stressed and non-stressed (at 200 kg N ha−1), grain yield expressed high heritability estimates of 80.43% and 75.68% and genetic advance at 21.90% and 21.56%, respectively. Positive and significant correlations (r > 0.5; p < 0.001) were measured between grain yield and yield components, implicating simultaneous direct and indirect selection of desired traits. The positive relationship between grain yield and yield components suggests that further quantitative trait loci analysis and progeny testing are crucial to guide genotype selection and breeding for drought and low-N stress-tolerant wheat genotypes.

Deciphering genetic characteristics of South China and North China indigenous pigs through selection signatures

BackgroundIndigenous pig breeds in China have accumulated significant genetic diversity due to regional selection pressures. Investigating the selection signatures of these populations helps to understand their adaptive evolution and contributes to genetic improvement programs.ResultsWe collected whole-genome sequencing data from 133 individuals, including South China and North China indigenous pigs and Asian wild boars. After data filtering, we retained 31,521,978 high-quality SNPs. Population structure analysis using PCA revealed distinct genetic clustering among these populations. Selection signature detection identified 5,227 loci under selection in South China indigenous pigs and 5,800 in North China indigenous pigs compared to Asian wild boars. Candidate genes were enriched in immune response pathways, reproductive traits, and pigmentation pathways. South China indigenous pigs exhibited selection signals for fat deposition and immune responses, while North China indigenous pigs showed stronger signals related to growth, blood physiology, and reproductive performance. Additionally, key genes such as MC1R and KIT were associated with coat color variation, and IGF1R and IGF2R were linked to growth regulation.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that indigenous pigs in China have undergone selection for distinct traits aligned with their regional environments and farming systems. South China indigenous pigs have been selected for traits related to fat deposition and immunity, while North China indigenous pigs have been selected for growth and reproductive traits. The findings offer crucial insights into the genetic architecture of indigenous pig breeds, providing a valuable foundation for future genetic breeding programs.

The quantitative anatomy of the hippocampal formation in homing pigeons and other pigeon breeds: implications for spatial cognition.

Artificial selection for specific behavioural and physical traits indomesticated animals has resulted in a wide variety of breeds. One of the most widely recognized examples of behavioural selection is the homing pigeon (Columba livia), which has undergone intense selection for fast and efficient navigation, likely resulting in significant anatomical changes to the hippocampal formation. Previous neuroanatomical comparisons between homing and other pigeon breeds yielded mixed results, but only focused on volumes. We completed a more systematic test for differences in hippocampal formation anatomy between homing and other pigeon breeds by measuring volumes, neuron numbers and neuron densities in the hippocampal formation and septum across homing pigeons and seven other breeds. Overall, we found few differences in hippocampal formation volume across breeds, but large, significant differences in neuron numbers and densities. More specifically, homing pigeons have significantly more hippocampal neurons and at higher density than most other pigeon breeds, with nearly twice as many neurons as feral pigeons. These findings suggest that neuron numbers may be animportant component of homing behaviour in homing pigeons. Our data also provide the first evidence that neuronal density can be modified by artificial selection, which has significant implications for the study of domestication and interbreed variation in anatomy and behaviour.

Phenotypic and Genomic Signatures of Latitudinal Local Adaptation Along With Prevailing Ocean Current in a Coastal Goby.

In the marine realm, unidirectional ocean currents often lead to high migration rates of marine organisms and, therefore, inhibit the formation of their latitudinal genetic structure. In contrast, cryptic latitudinal structures associated with local adaptation may frequently exist in widespread species generally exposed to a strong environmental heterogeneity. However, our understanding of the evolvability of locally adapted populations in open marine environments still needs to be completed. The coastal area along the Sea of Japan, where the Tsushima Warm Current flows from south to north in the Japanese Archipelago, provides a good model system for exploring this question. This study explored evidence for latitudinal local adaptation along with the prevailing ocean current in the ice goby Leucopsarion petersii at the phenotypic and genomic levels. Common garden experiments clearly showed genetically based clinal variation in growth rate, strongly suggesting local adaptation through conutergradient selection of this fitness-related trait. Analyses based on reduced-representation sequencing revealed a slight signal of genetic differentiation between the southern and northern populations, although continuous historical gene flow between them was supported by demographic modelling. Also, whole-genome resequencing showed their independent demographic history during the last glacial period. Thus, these results suggest that gene flow along with the prevailing ocean current is somewhat limited, and the populations are not completely panmictic. Furthermore, the selection scan based on low-coverage genome-wide sequencing detected putative genomic signatures of latitudinal adaptation of growth-related genes. Thus, our integrative study provided a novel example of marine local adaptation under a large ocean current.

Породата Ил дьо Франс в Молдова – проява на основни продуктивни признаци

The aim of the study is to analyze the manifestation of the main selection traits of Ile de France sheep, introduced for the first time in 2023, in the Republic of Moldova. The object of the study is 180 female animals and their offspring, raised on two farms in the geographical and economic conditions of Moldova. The manifestation of the main selection traits at the first birth of the ewes was monitored - live weight and average daily gain of lambs, fertility and fecundity of the ewes. The growth intensity of the lambs was analyzed in two age periods. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that Ile de France sheep breed adapt well to the geographical and economic conditions in the Republic of Moldova, maintain excellent physiological status and realize their potential for high productivity. The monitored animals have an excellent expression of two of the main productive traits – live weight and average daily gain. The established average daily gain of lambs in the period from birth to 30 days is from 250 to 280 g/day for singletons; from 210 to 220 g/day for twins and from 170 to 180 g/day for triplets and more born lambs. The results obtained are below the average for the population in Bulgaria. The results for the average daily gain in the next age category – from 30 to 70 days of age, respectively, 295 to 305 g/ day for singletons; from 301 to 309 g/day for twins and from 288 to 315 g/day for triplets and more lambs. The average fertility of ewes at first birth is 1.5 lambs per ewe, and the fertility rate for a total of 180 ewes is 91%.

Identifying Significant SNPs of the Total Number of Piglets Born and Their Relationship with Leg Bumps in Pigs.

The aim of this study was to identify genetic variants and pathways associated with the total number of piglets born and to investigate the potential negative consequences of the intensive selection for reproductive traits, particularly the formation of bumps on the legs of pigs. We used genome-wide association analysis and methods for identifying selection signatures. As a result, 47 SNPs were identified, localized in genes that play a significant role during sow pregnancy. These genes are involved in follicle growth and development (SGC), early embryonic development (CCDC3, LRRC8C, LRFN3, TNFRSF19), endometrial receptivity and implantation (NEBL), placentation, and embryonic development (ESRRG, GHRHR, TUSC3, NBAS). Several genes are associated with disorders of the nervous system and brain development (BCL11B, CDNF, ULK4, CC2D2A, KCNK2). Additionally, six SNPs are associated with the formation of bumps on the legs of pigs. These variants include intronic variants in the CCDC3, ULK4, and MINDY4 genes, as well as intergenic variants, regulatory region variants, and variants in the exons of non-coding transcripts. The results suggest important biological pathways and genetic variants associated with sow fertility and highlight the potential negative impacts on the health and physical condition of pigs.

Identification and characterization of Capsicum mutants using, biochemical, physiological, and single sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Identification and characterization of crop mutants through molecular marker analysis are imperious to develop desirable traits in mutation breeding programs. In the present study, macromolecular variations with altered morphological, quantitative, and biochemical traits were generated through chemically induced mutagenesis via alkylating agents and heavy metals. Statistical analysis based on quantitative traits indicating enhanced mean value in mutant lines selected from the M4 generation as compared to previous generations. Identification and characterization of morphology in selected mutant lines are based on altered phenotypes (e.g. tall and dwarf mutant with high yield, fruits with thick texture and bold seeds, etc.) in comparison to control populations. The useful mutations were recorded in phytochemicals (e.g. capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) and macro and micro nutrients profile (e.g. protein, iron, copper, cadmium and zinc) in selected mutant lines of Capsicum annuum L. Single Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers analysis in selected mutant lines revealed genetic diversity in Capsicum. annuum L. The total of 44 alleles were observed with average number of allele 4.00. The Unweighted Pair Group Arithmetic Mean Method (UPGMA) showed maximum dissimilarity was recorded between mutant A-III and F-III followed by mutant G-III and C-III, while mutant B-III and G-III showed the lowest dissimilarity to each other followed by mutant L-III and mutant J-III. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed genetic diversity among mutant lines indicating their prioritization over other traits in indirect selection and also revealed that mutants treated with lower and medium concentrations were divergent. These mutant lines could be suitable in crop improvement programs for the broadening the genetic base of C. annuum L. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) grouped the mutants into two clusters with variable euclidean distance indicated heterogeneous mutant lines developed from induced mutagenic treatments. Thus beneficial mutations could be induced in chilli genotypes via mutation breeding to enhance genetic variability in limited resources, period, and efforts.

Genetic evaluation of productive longevity in a multibreed beef cattle population.

Genetic selection for traits that have direct impact on profitability, such as productive longevity (PL), which blends cow longevity with regular reproductive performance, is fundamental for the economic success of beef cow-calf operations. The purpose of this study was to develop data screening strategy and a statistical model to predict genetic merit for PL in a multibreed beef cattle population. Pedigree (n = 1,352,765) and phenotype (n = 978,382) information were provided by Leachman Cattle of Colorado and genotypes (n = 26,342) were provided by the Zoetis commercial genotyping laboratory. A repeatability model (REP) including the systematic effects of age at first calving, year-season of progeny birth, pedigree-based retained heterosis, and parity number, as well as the random effects of additive genetic, permanent environment, contemporary group, and residual were fitted to adjust PL. In addition, a random regression model (RRM) was fitted to investigate PL considering the same effects, with the difference that random effects were regressed on parity. Estimated breeding value (EBV) were obtained by single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) and transformed to predict differences in number of calves through linear regression. Predictive performance was assessed in a group of 7,268 cows born in 2010. Heritability estimates for PL were relatively low, with values of 0.109 for REP and a decreasing trend for RRM with values ranging from 0.16 to 0.04. Repeatability for PL was of moderate magnitude, with values of 0.415 for REP and from 0.29 to 0.57 for RRM. Heritability estimates suggest that most of phenotypic variation was accounted for by environmental factors, but long-term genetic selection could still be effective. REP was more efficient than RRM, showing lower number of iterations and time to reach convergence with comparable solutions to RRM. Validation results showed that correlations between EBV and phenotypes (observed/pre-corrected) increased over the years ranging from 0.04 to 0.92. Repeatability values and the validation approach suggested that using a cow's first record (second parity success or failure) is a reasonably good indicator of posterior performance for PL. Therefore, the inclusion of PL in a multibreed genetic evaluation program, incorporation into selection indexes with existing economic traits, can enable more profitable selection and breeding decisions in beef cattle herds.

Genetic Diversity and Gains from Selection for Fruit and Bean Physical Traits from the Conilon Coffee Genotype

Plant breeding of Coffea canephora is based on the characterization and use of the natural genetic variability of the species. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify the genetic diversity and gains from selection of the fruit and bean physical traits of the C. canephora plant, seeking to understand the relations among the yield components and identify genotypes with superior traits. For this purpose, 42 genotypes were evaluated over two crop years while considering a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement to quantify the effects of genotypes, crop years, and the interaction between these two factors. Coffee fruit samples in the cherry stage were used to evaluate the weights, volumes, and dimensions of the fresh fruit and beans after drying. Genotypic variance prevailed over environmental variance for all of the fruit and bean physical traits of the coffee plants, except for the greatest fruit width (FWG). These associations indicate that the constituent parts of the fruit increased in a manner proportional to an increase in weight. Such associations can facilitate or hinder plant selection. The total gains obtained through the selection indices were similar to those obtained through direct selection for greater bean weights. However, the use of selection indices made it possible to identify clones with more balanced traits.

Differences in Physiological and Agronomic Traits and Evaluation of Adaptation of Seven Maize Varieties.

To better understand the growth adaptability of various maize varieties to the climate of the Alar region in Southern Xinjiang Province, an experiment was conducted using seven distinct maize varieties as test materials. A one-way randomized block design was applied to both experimental groups. In 2021 and 2022, a total of 19 indicators were observed for comparative analysis, including antioxidant enzyme activities and agronomic traits. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to evaluate the adaptability of the maize varieties. The findings revealed that: (1) All seven maize varieties exhibited robust growth, with notable differences in their respective trait profiles. Specifically, the yield traits of Jin'ai 588 and Denghai 3672 showed relatively consistent performance over the two-year period. (2) Five principal components (100-kernel weight, bald tip length, catalase (CAT), number of leaves, and angle of leaf pinch at the ear) were extracted from the 19 traits via principal component analysis, with a cumulative contribution rate of 84.689%. This represented the majority of the information regarding the seven maize varieties. After calculating the comprehensive index F value, the results indicated that Xinyu 66 and Denghai 3672 had high composite scores, suggesting high production potential and suitability for cultivation in this region. Conversely, Xinyu 24 showed the lowest composite score, indicating that it is not suitable for planting in this area. (3) Ultimately, the seven maize varieties were categorized into three groups through cluster analysis; this is the same as the result of principal component analysis. This classification provides a reference for the promotion and utilization of different varieties in the southern border region and aims to optimize the comprehensive trait selection of the varieties studied.

Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Prediction of Soft Wheat End-Use Quality Traits Under Post-Anthesis Heat-Stressed Conditions.

Wheat end-use quality is an important component of a wheat breeding program. Heat stress during grain filling impacts wheat quality traits, making it crucial to understand the genetic basis of wheat quality traits under post-anthesis heat stress. This study aimed to identify the genomic regions associated with wheat quality traits using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and evaluate the prediction accuracy of different genomic selection (GS) models. A panel of 236 soft red facultative wheat genotypes was evaluated for end-use quality traits across four heat-stressed environments over three years. Significant phenotypic variation was observed across environments for traits such as grain yield (GY), grain protein (GP), grain hardness (GH), and flour yield (AFY). Heritability estimates ranged from 0.52 (GY) to 0.91 (GH). The GWASs revealed 136 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) across all 21 chromosomes, with several MTAs located within candidate genes involved in stress responses and quality traits. Genomic selection models showed prediction accuracy values up to 0.60, with within-environment prediction outperforming across-environment prediction. These results suggest that integrating GWAS and GS approaches can enhance the selection of wheat quality traits under heat stress, contributing to the development of heat-tolerant varieties.