Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 12-21 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 12 Review and Progress Open Access Accelerating the Process of Tree Breeding: A Review and Progress of GWAS Applications in Forest Trees LiuChuchu1 , LiuYuan2 1 Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: natashaccliu2023@gmail.com Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2024.14.0003 Received: 03 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 05 Feb., 2024 Published: 17 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liu and Liu, 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: Liu C.C., and Liu Y., 2024, Accelerating the process of tree breeding: a review and progress of GWAS applications in forest trees, Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 14(1): 12-21 (doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2024.14.0003) Abstract This study reviews and prospects the application of Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) in forest tree breeding. With the rapid development of molecular biology and genomics, GWAS has become an essential tool for deciphering the relationship between genetic variation and trait expression in trees. This research introduces the basic principles and methods of GWAS technology and discusses its successful application in the field of plant breeding, showcasing the potential of GWAS in identifying genetic markers related to important agronomic traits such as crop yield, quality, and disease resistance. The study focuses on the special considerations and challenges of GWAS in tree breeding, including the long lifespan of trees, their large genomes, and genetic diversity, and elucidates the application of GWAS in identifying genetic markers related to important traits in trees, using actual case studies. The application of GWAS in tree breeding not only improves the efficiency and accuracy of breeding but also provides new strategies and methods for protecting genetic resources and adapting to environmental changes. Keywords Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS); Forest trees; Breeding process; Genetic markers; Technical challenges 1 Introduction Tree breeding, a science deeply rooted in human history, has become the core of modern forestry research. Since ancient times, trees have provided indispensable resources for humans, such as timber and pulp, and played a crucial role in maintaining global ecological balance and biodiversity (Ahmar et al., 2021). In terms of coping with climate change, protecting soil and water sources, and maintaining a balanced biosphere, the role of trees is not to be underestimated. However, with the rapid changes in the global environment and the increasing human demand for forest products, tree breeding is facing unprecedented challenges. Traditional tree breeding methods, such as selective breeding, controlled hybridization, and grafting, rely on long-term selection and hybridization experiments, but are limited by the long lifespan of trees and their genetic diversity (Whetten et al., 2023). These methods are inefficient in improving tree quality, adaptability, and stress resistance, making it difficult to rapidly adapt to environmental changes and market demands. To overcome these limitations, modern genetic technologies, especially Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS), have provided new perspectives for tree breeding. GWAS utilizes high-throughput sequencing techniques to analyze genomic variations and explore their associations with specific traits in trees, revealing the genetic factors influencing these traits. This method has achieved significant results in elucidating the genetic basis of crops and human diseases. For example, in crops, GWAS has been successfully applied to genetic improvement of wheat, rice, and corn. In wheat, through GWAS analysis, researchers have successfully identified multiple genetic markers associated with important traits such as yield, quality, and stress resistance (Saini et al., 2022). In human diseases, the application of GWAS has also made significant progress, identifying many important gene variations associated with diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer (Mills and Rahal, 2020). The application of GWAS in tree breeding is also becoming increasingly widespread, particularly in the genetic improvement of trees, showing great potential. Breeders can use GWAS to identify genetic markers associated with important traits such as growth rate, wood quality, and disease resistance, thereby accelerating the breeding process and cultivating tree species with stronger adaptability, faster growth, and better disease resistance (Sawitri et al., 2020).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==