Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 24-34 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 32 Mechanization-friendly traits are crucial for sustainable maize production as they directly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural practices. Traits such as kernel size, plant architecture, and stress tolerance are essential for optimizing mechanical harvesting and reducing labor costs. For example, the identification of SNP markers related to morphological features such as plant height and ear position can aid in developing maize varieties that are better suited for mechanical harvesting. Moreover, understanding the genetic basis of these traits allows for the development of maize varieties that can withstand environmental stresses, thereby ensuring stable yields and food security. The integration of advanced breeding techniques, such as marker-assisted selection and genome editing, can accelerate the development of high-yielding, stress-tolerant maize varieties, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. While significant progress has been made in mapping mechanization-friendly traits in maize, several challenges and opportunities remain. One of the primary challenges is the complexity of polygenic traits and the need for high-resolution mapping to accurately identify and utilize beneficial alleles. The integration of multi-omics approaches, including transcriptomics and proteomics, can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying these traits. Additionally, the development of high-throughput phenotyping platforms and advanced computational tools for data analysis will be essential for accelerating breeding programs. Future research should also focus on the validation and functional characterization of candidate genes to ensure their effectiveness in different environmental conditions. Collaborative efforts between researchers, breeders, and policymakers will be crucial in addressing these challenges and harnessing the full potential of mechanization-friendly traits for sustainable maize production. Acknowledgments The authors appreciate the two anonymous peer reviewers for their suggestions during the review process, which helped us to identify weaknesses in the study. Funding This work was jointly supported by the Science and Technology Development of Jilin Province (QTL) Mapping of Maize Resistance to Ear Rot Based on SNP Markers and Breeding of New High-Yield, Disease-Resistant, and Machine-Harvestable Varieties (#20240303017NC) and College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training (GJ202211439016). Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Chen Z., Tang D., Ni J., Li P., Wang L., Zhou J., Li C., Lan H., Li L., and Liu J., 2021, Development of genic KASP SNP markers from RNA-Seq data for map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in maize, BMC Plant Biology, 21: 157. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-02932-8 Ertiro B., Labuschagne M., Olsen M., Das B., Prasanna B., and Gowda M., 2020, Genetic dissection of nitrogen use efficiency in tropical maize through genome-wide association and genomic prediction, Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 474. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00474 Ganal M., Durstewitz G., Polley A., Berard A., Buckler E., Charcosset A., Clarke J., Graner E., Hansen M., Joets J., Paslier M., McMullen M., Montalent P., Rose M., Schön C., Sun Q., Walter H., Martin O., and Falque M., 2011, A large maize (Zeamays L.) SNP genotyping array: development and germplasm genotyping, and genetic mapping to compare with the B73 reference genome, PLoS One, 6(12): e28334. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028334 Gupta P., Langridge P., and Mir R., 2010, Marker-assisted wheat breeding: present status and future possibilities, Molecular Breeding, 26: 145-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-009-9359-7 He J., Zhao X., Laroche A., Lu Z., Liu H., and Li Z., 2014, Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), an ultimate marker-assisted selection (MAS) tool to accelerate plant breeding, Frontiers in Plant Science, 5: 484. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00484 Hou J., Zhang J., Bao F., Zhang P., Han H., Tan H., Chen B., and Zhao F., 2024, The contribution of exotic varieties to maize genetic improvement, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(4): 198-208. Huang X., Wei X., Sang T., Zhao Q., Feng Q., Zhao Y., Li C., Zhu C., Lu T., Zhang Z., Li M., Fan D., Guo Y., Wang A., Wang L., Deng L., Li W., Lu Y., Weng Q., Liu K., Huang T., Zhou T., Jing Y., Li W., Lin Z., Buckler E., Qian Q., Zhang Q., Li J., and Han B., 2010, Genome-wide association studies of 14 agronomic traits in rice landraces, Nature Genetics, 42: 961-967.
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