What if we knew all the genes for a quantitative trait in hybrid crops

Bernardo, R. (2001) What if we knew all the genes for a quantitative trait in hybrid crops. Crop Science, 41 (1). pp. 1-4.

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Abstract

Plant genomics programmes are expected to decipher the sequence and function of genes controlling important traits. Most of the important traits in crops are quantitative and are controlled jointly by many loci. With maize (Zea mays) as a model species, computer simulation showed that gene information is most useful in selection when few loci (e.g., 10) control the trait. With many loci (≥50), the least squares estimates of gene effects become imprecise. Gene information consequently improves selection efficiency among hybrids by only 10% or less, and actually becomes detrimental to selection as more loci become known. Increasing the population size and trait heritability to improve the estimates of gene effects also improves phenotypic selection, leaving little room for improvement of selection efficiency via gene information. The typical reductionist approach in genomics, therefore, has limited potential for enhancing selection for quantitative traits in hybrid crops.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: SNNigam Collection
Uncontrolled Keywords: Maize, Quantitative trait, Hybrid crops
Author Affiliation: Dep. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Univ. of Minnesota, USA.
Subjects: Crop Improvement
Divisions: Maize
Depositing User: Mr Arbind Seth
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2013 10:47
Last Modified: 03 Apr 2013 10:47
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2001.4111
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/10112

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