Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 100-111 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 100 Invited Review Open Access Expanding Genetic Horizons: The Role of MAGIC Populations in Enhancing Plant Breeding Efficiency Liangrong Jiang , Wanying Xu Xiamen Plant Genetics Key Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China Corresponding email: lrjiang108@xmu.edu.cn Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol.15, No.3 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0012 Received: 07 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 15 Apr., 2024 Published: 26 Jun., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Jiang and Xu, 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: Jiang L.R., and Xu W.Y., 2024, Expanding genetic horizons: the role of MAGIC populations in enhancing plant breeding efficiency, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(3): 100-111 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0012) Abstract The burgeoning global population and the concomitant demand for increased agricultural productivity necessitate the exploration of innovative breeding strategies. Multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations have emerged as a pivotal resource in plant breeding, offering a unique amalgamation of genetic diversity and recombination. These populations are derived from multiple founder parents and result in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that serve as a genetic mosaic, capturing a broad spectrum of genetic variation. The development of MAGIC populations, through either "funnel" or "diallel" cross-designs, ensures a balanced representation of each parent's genome, thereby maximizing the potential for genetic discovery and trait improvement. The application of MAGIC populations has been demonstrated across various crops, including cereals, cowpea, sorghum, tomato, eggplant, rice, and strawberry, highlighting their versatility and potential for enhancing breeding efficiency. Advances in genotyping technologies and specific software development have facilitated the genetic analysis of these complex populations, enabling the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the selection of elite breeding material. Furthermore, MAGIC populations are instrumental in dissecting complex traits, such as disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and grain quality, and hold promise for the direct release of new varieties. The integration of MAGIC populations into breeding pipelines, coupled with the potential for inter-specific crosses and the development of populations in non-pure line crops, underscores their transformative role in plant breeding. This review underscores the significance of MAGIC populations in advancing genetic research and breeding, paving the way for the development of improved cultivars to meet future agricultural challenges. Keywords MAGIC populations; Plant breeding; Genetic diversity; Recombinant inbred lines; Quantitative trait loci; Crop improvement; Genotyping; Genetic analysis; Trait dissection; Cultivar development 1 Introduction Plant breeding is a critical component of agricultural development, aimed at improving crop yields, resistance to diseases, and adaptation to environmental stresses. However, the complexity of plant genomes and the multifaceted nature of agronomic traits pose significant challenges to breeders. Traditional breeding methods often rely on bi-parental crosses, which can limit the genetic diversity and slow down the breeding process. To overcome these limitations, advanced genetic tools are needed to explore the vast genetic potential within crop species and accelerate the development of improved varieties. One such advanced tool is the Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population. MAGIC populations are derived from the intercrossing of multiple founder parents, resulting in a diverse and recombined genetic resource. These populations are characterized by their ability to capture a wide array of genetic variation from several different lines, thus providing a powerful platform for genetic analysis and selection of elite breeding material (Cavanagh et al., 2008; Bandillo et al., 2013; Pascual et al., 2015; Wei and Xu, 2015; Meng et al., 2016; Ongom and Ejeta, 2017; Huynh et al., 2018; Campanelli et al., 2019; Arrones et al., 2020; Mangino et al., 2021). The emergence of MAGIC populations represents a significant step forward in plant breeding, as they combine the genetic contributions of multiple parents and facilitate the mapping of QTLs with greater precision. The objectives of this review are to provide an overview of the challenges faced in plant breeding and the need for advanced genetic tools like MAGIC populations, to define and discuss the emergence of MAGIC populations and their design, and to explore how these populations can enhance the efficiency of plant breeding programs. By examining the development and application of MAGIC populations across various crop species, this review aims to highlight their potential in unlocking genetic diversity and driving the next wave of crop improvement.
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