Genome-Wide Association Studies and Genomic Prediction in Plants

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic prediction are two important methodologies in plant genetics and breeding that make use of genetic information to understand and improve plant traits. GWAS is a method used to identify associations between genetic variants and specific traits in a population. In plants, this can be applied to traits like disease-resistance, yield, drought tolerance, or flowering time. Genomic prediction is a method used to predict the genetic value of plants based on genetic information. Unlike GWAS that focuses on identifying specific associations between SNPs and traits, genomic prediction uses all available genetic data to predict the performance on individual for a certain trait. Application of genomic prediction include breeding selection and yield improvement. Both GWAS and genomic prediction are crucial tools in modern plant breeding, enabling the development of crops with improved traits more efficiently. The objective of this book is to give a general view of genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction in plants and its applications. It aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects and the recent researches in this field. The book will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and post-graduate students.