Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 212-222 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 212 Review and Progress Open Access Genome-Wide Association Studies in Fabaceae: Progress and Prospects Qishan Chen Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: qishan.chen@cuixi.org Genomics and Applied Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0023 Received: 01 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 11 Aug., 2024 Published: 26 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen Q.S., 2024, Genome-wide association studies in fabaceae: progress and prospects, Genomics and Applied Biology, 15(4): 212-222 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0023) Abstract Recent advancements in GWAS have significantly enhanced our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits in Fabaceae. Key discoveries include the identification of numerous genomic variants linked to agronomic traits, such as yield, stress tolerance, and biochemical properties. The development of novel methodologies, such as mixed model frameworks and haplotype-based fine-mapping, has improved the accuracy and resolution of GWAS, reducing false positives and increasing the power to detect rare variants. Additionally, the integration of next-generation sequencing technologies has facilitated the rapid identification of candidate genes and their functional validation. The findings from GWAS in Fabaceae have profound implications for plant breeding and genetic engineering. By uncovering the genetic basis of complex traits, these studies provide valuable insights that can be leveraged to enhance crop performance and resilience. Future research should focus on optimizing GWAS models, exploring epistatic interactions, and utilizing genomic data to advance our understanding of biological processes and improve crop breeding strategies. Keywords Genome-wide association studies; Fabaceae; Genetic variants; Complex traits; Crop improvement; Next-generation sequencing; Plant breeding 1 Introduction The Fabaceae family, also known as Leguminosae, is the third largest family of flowering plants, comprising approximately 19 500 species across 770 genera (Xu and Deng, 2017; Jishtu and Goraya, 2020). This family is of immense agricultural importance, second only to the Poaceae family (grasses), due to its significant contribution to global food security and agricultural sustainability (Zhu et al., 2005; Smýkal et al., 2015). Fabaceae includes a wide variety of economically important crops such as soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas, which are crucial sources of protein for human diets and animal feed (Smýkal et al., 2015; Jishtu and Goraya, 2020). Additionally, many Fabaceae species possess the unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with rhizobial bacteria, enhancing soil fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers (Zhao et al., 2021). Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have emerged as a powerful tool in plant genetics and breeding, enabling the identification of genetic variants associated with important agronomic traits (Koenen et al., 2019; Shen et al., 2024). In the context of Fabaceae, GWAS can facilitate the discovery of genes linked to traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield improvement, thereby accelerating the development of superior crop varieties (Bruneau et al., 2013; Koenen et al., 2019). The integration of GWAS with other genomic approaches, such as phylogenomics and comparative genomics, can provide deeper insights into the genetic architecture and evolutionary history of legume crops, further informing breeding strategies (Zhu et al., 2005; Koenen et al., 2019). This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress and prospects of Genome-Wide Association Studies in the Fabaceae family. It will cover the current state of GWAS research in major legume crops, highlight key findings and methodological advancements, and discuss the potential applications of GWAS in crop improvement programs.
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