International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 66-77 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 72 Research has also revealed the genetic basis of other nutrition-related traits, such as chlorophyll content, vitamin and mineral levels, which typically involve complex biochemical pathways and metabolic networks. By identifying the key genes and genetic variations controlling these important nutritional traits, researchers can better understand the mechanisms of plant nutritional metabolism and strategically enhance crop nutritional value through genetic improvement (Guo et al., 2023). These findings have not only deepened our understanding of the genetic control of crop nutritional traits but have also facilitated the development of new breeding strategies focused on improving crop nutritional value and consumer acceptance. Consequently, GWAS plays a crucial role in identifying nutrition-related genes, significantly impacting nutritional improvement and enhancing the market value of vegetable crops. 4.3 Applications of GWAS in enhancing vegetable nutritional value In the application of GWAS to enhance vegetable nutritional value, the identified gene information is used to guide molecular marker-assisted selection or gene-editing breeding strategies, aiming to enhance the nutritional quality of vegetables. The effectiveness of these strategies has been demonstrated in various vegetable crops. A study on wheat varieties using meta-GWAS methods revealed marker-trait associations for processing and end-use quality traits, which can aid in selecting markers during the breeding process (Battenfield et al., 2018). Additionally, other studies have applied GWAS in tropical rice and other crops, demonstrating the potential of using whole-genome data to predict the breeding value of progeny, thereby accelerating the pace of genetic improvement (Spindel et al., 2015). Through the application of GWAS, researchers have been able to identify genetic markers associated with important agronomic traits in soybeans and other crops, which can be used for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs (Yoosefzadeh-Najafabadi et al., 2023). Such studies further demonstrate the application value of GWAS in identifying genes associated with vegetable nutritional quality, supporting its effectiveness in enhancing the nutritional and antioxidant properties of vegetables. By precisely identifying the genes controlling the synthesis of these secondary metabolites, breeding programs can strategically improve the nutritional characteristics of vegetable crops, providing consumers with healthier food choices. This approach not only enhances the nutritional value of vegetables but also contributes to increasing crop diversity and market competitiveness, thereby supporting the development of sustainable agriculture and food systems. 5 Case Study 5.1 Case study of GWAS application in specific vegetable crops Taking tomato as an example, it is one of the major vegetables widely cultivated and consumed globally. In tomato genetic improvement, the application of GWAS has successfully revealed key genetic markers influencing lycopene content. Lycopene is an important antioxidant with numerous benefits for human health. By conducting genome-wide association analysis on different tomato varieties, researchers have successfully identified several genetic markers significantly associated with tomato lycopene content. For instance, Tiwari et al. (2023) increased lycopene content in tomatoes using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique, demonstrating the tremendous potential of gene-editing technologies in genetic improvement, whose applications are not limited to improving nutritional value but also include enhancing stress tolerance and disease resistance, among other aspects (Figure 2). Through these studies, researchers can precisely modify specific genes in plant breeding to achieve specific breeding goals. Furthermore, GWAS has made significant progress in elucidating the genetic basis of multiple traits affecting tomato fruit quality, such as editing and functionalizing various traits like plant structure, floral characteristics, fruit ripening, quality and nutrition, and disease resistance in tomatoes. These findings have provided important molecular markers for tomato genetic improvement, contributing to the development of superior tomato varieties (Ruggieri et al., 2014).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==