Optimizing genomic selection of agricultural traits using K-wheat core collection

The agricultural traits that constitute basic plant breeding information are usually quantitative or complex in nature. This quantitative and complex combination of traits complicates the process of selection in breeding. This study examined the potential of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomewide selection (GS) for breeding ten agricultural traits by using genome-wide SNPs. As a first step, a trait-associated candidate marker was identified by GWAS using a genetically diverse 567 Korean (K)-wheat core collection. The accessions were genotyped using an Axiom(®) 35K wheat DNA chip, and ten agricultural traits were determined (awn color, awn length, culm color, culm length, ear color, ear length, days to heading, days to maturity, leaf length, and leaf width). It is essential to sustain global wheat production by utilizing accessions in wheat breeding. Among the traits associated with awn color and ear color that showed a high positive correlation, a SNP located on chr1B was significantly associated with both traits. Next, GS evaluated the prediction accuracy using six predictive models (G-BLUP, LASSO, BayseA, reproducing kernel Hilbert space, support vector machine (SVM), and random forest) and various training populations (TPs). With the exception of the SVM, all statistical models demonstrated a prediction accuracy of 0.4 or better. For the optimization of the TP, the number of TPs was randomly selected (10%, 30%, 50% and 70%) or divided into three subgroups (CC-sub 1, CC-sub 2 and CC-sub 3) based on the subpopulation structure. Based on subgroup-based TPs, better prediction accuracy was found for awn color, culm color, culm length, ear color, ear length, and leaf width. A variety of Korean wheat cultivars were used for validation to evaluate the prediction ability of populations. Seven out of ten cultivars showed phenotype-consistent results based on genomics-evaluated breeding values (GEBVs) calculated by the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) predictive model. Our research provides a basis for improving complex traits in wheat breeding programs through genomics assisted breeding. The results of our research can be used as a basis for improving wheat breeding programs by using genomics-assisted breeding.