Maize Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 9-17 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 9 Research Article Open Access Unraveling Key Genetic Factors in Corn Quality Improvement through GWAS Tianxia Guo Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College, Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: 3048511772@qq.com Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0002 Received: 10 Dec., 2023 Accepted: 12 Jan., 2024 Published: 31 Jan., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Guo, 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: Guo T.X., 2024, Unraveling key genetic factors in corn quality improvement through GWAS, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 15(1): 9-17 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0002) Abstract Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) are a powerful genetic tool that has been widely applied in the field of crop quality improvement in recent years. Particularly in corn, as one of the world's important food and feed crops, improving its quality is crucial to meet the growing demand for food. This study reviews the application of GWAS in analyzing the genetic basis of corn quality-related traits, focusing on the genetic regulatory mechanisms of key traits such as starch content, protein content, and oil content. We summarize recent research progress, including key genetic loci discovered through GWAS and their potential impact on corn quality. Moreover, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of applying GWAS findings in corn breeding practices, and how to utilize the latest biotechnologies, such as CRISPR gene editing, for precise trait improvement in corn. Finally, the study proposes future research directions, emphasizing the importance of integrating various genetic and genomic tools to comprehensively understand the genetic mechanisms behind corn quality formation. Keywords Quality improvement; Genetic factors; CRISPR gene editing; Genetic loci; Biotechnology As one of the most important food crops in the world, corn plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring global food security. As the world's population continues to grow and food demand continues to rise, improving the yield and nutritional value of corn has become a top priority in research and breeding. This is not only about the quantity of food, but also about the quality of food, that is, how to significantly improve the nutritional content of corn through scientific methods to better meet the needs of human health diet. In this context, traditional breeding techniques can no longer fully meet the needs of modern agriculture, and new scientific and technological means are urgently needed to guide crop quality improvement. In recent years, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), as an emerging genetic research method, has been widely used in crop genetics and breeding research due to its unique advantages (Reddy et al., 2023). Compared with traditional genetic analysis methods, GWAS can identify genetic markers associated with specific traits on a genome-wide scale, providing an efficient tool for revealing the genetic basis of crop traits. This method is particularly suitable for analyzing complex traits that are jointly controlled by multiple small-effect genes, such as corn yield, disease resistance, and nutritional components, etc., thus greatly promoting the research progress of crop quality improvement (Karikari et al., 2023). However, although GWAS has shown great potential in crop genetic research, how to accurately interpret GWAS results and apply this genetic information to actual corn breeding remains a challenge. In addition, corn quality improvement not only needs to consider adding specific nutrients, but also needs to take into account the crop's growth cycle, yield, and adaptability to environmental conditions, which increases the complexity of quality improvement. This study aims to comprehensively use GWAS methods to deeply analyze the key genetic factors in corn quality improvement, especially those important genes and genetic loci that affect the nutritional composition of corn. Through this research, we expect to provide scientific basis and genetic resources for high-quality breeding of corn, and ultimately achieve the goal of improving the nutritional value and yield of corn (Sahito et al., 2024). At the same time, this study also aims to explore strategies for effectively applying GWAS results to breeding practice, and how to precisely regulate target traits in corn through the latest biotechnological means, such as gene
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