Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 106-118 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 111 Figure 3 Heatmap Analysis of Wheat Varieties Genotypes (Adopted from Merrick et al., 2021) Image caption: Heat map and hierarchical clustering for lines in the diversity panel (DP) lines and breeding lines (BL) populations for the major rust markers: IWB12603(Qyr.wpg-1B.1), KASP(Lr68), Xpsp3000(Yr10), and KASP(Yr17). Genotype: 0, homozygous wild-type allele; 1, heterozygous with both alleles present; 2, homozygous resistant allele 4.3 Genomic selection Genomic selection (GS) represents a significant advancement over traditional MAS by utilizing genome-wide marker coverage to predict the genetic value of breeding lines for complex traits like disease resistance (Poland and Rutkoski, 2016; Merrick et al., 2021). GS models incorporate both major and minor genes, making them particularly suitable for breeding programs targeting quantitative resistance (Merrick et al., 2021). For example, GS has been shown to achieve high prediction accuracy for stripe rust resistance in wheat, outperforming traditional MAS methods (Merrick et al., 2021). The implementation of GS in breeding programs can accelerate the development of disease-resistant varieties by reducing the selection cycle length. This is particularly beneficial for traits like adult plant resistance (APR), which require multiple seasons to phenotype accurately (Rutkoski et al., 2011). A proposed GS-based breeding scheme for stem rust resistance in wheat suggests that cycle time can be reduced by up to twofold, facilitating the pyramiding of major and APR genes (Rutkoski et al., 2011). Additionally, the integration of GS with other molecular breeding techniques, such as genome editing and phenotypic evaluations, can further enhance the development of high-quality wheat varieties with durable resistance to multiple pathogens (Miedaner et al., 2020; Mapuranga et al., 2022). In summary, the integration of molecular breeding techniques, including MAS and GS, offers a robust framework for developing wheat cultivars with durable disease resistance. By leveraging the genetic basis of resistance, these techniques can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of breeding programs, ultimately contributing to sustainable wheat production worldwide. 5 Integration of Molecular Techniques in Breeding Programs 5.1 Combining conventional and molecular approaches The integration of conventional and molecular breeding techniques has become a cornerstone in developing
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