Liang Li , Wenzhong Huang

Hainan Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572000, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0003
Received: 10 Dec., 2023    Accepted: 15 Jan., 2024    Published: 27 Jan., 2024

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.

Li L., and Huang W.Z., 2024, The genetic basis of nutritional quality traits in maize: Insights from GWAS, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 15(1): 17-24 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2024.15.0003)

As a cornerstone of global food security, the nutritional quality traits of maize are crucial for enhancing food value and meeting the growing nutritional demands. This study utilized the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) method to explore the genetic basis of maize nutritional quality traits, including protein content, oil content, and the content of vitamins and minerals. By analyzing a vast array of maize genetic resources and phenotypic data, we identified several genetic markers and candidate genes significantly associated with nutritional quality traits. These discoveries provide new insights into the genetic regulatory mechanisms of maize nutritional quality traits and offer valuable molecular markers for future maize improvement and breeding programs. In summary, this study not only enhances our understanding of the genetic foundations of maize nutritional quality traits but also demonstrates the potential application of GWAS in crop genetic research, with the expectation that these fundamental research outcomes will promote the improvement of maize varieties to meet global demands for healthy food.

Maize; Nutritional quality traits; Genetic basis; Genome-wide association study (GWAS); Candidate genes