Renxiang Cai

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   
Received: 28 May, 2024    Accepted: 05 Jul., 2024    Published: 18 Jul., 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.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis has become a pivotal tool in understanding the genetic basis of complex traits in Triticeae, with significant implications for breeding and genetics. This study retrospects various methodologies and findings in QTL mapping, highlighting the advancements and applications in crop improvement. Multiple interval mapping (MIM) has been shown to enhance the precision and power of QTL detection, allowing for the estimation of epistasis, genotypic values, and heritabilities. Comparative genomic analysis has identified stable QTLs for grain yield, quality traits, and micronutrient contents in wheat, consolidating QTLs into meta-QTLs (MQTLs) and reducing confidence intervals, thus facilitating marker-assisted selection (MAS). The integration of linkage and association mapping has further dissected the genetic architecture of complex traits, revealing the importance of environment-specific QTLs and the need for advanced statistical strategies in the era of next-generation sequencing. Additionally, QTL mapping under stress conditions, such as salinity, has identified key genomic regions contributing to stress tolerance, which can be exploited for breeding resilient varieties. ThFe development of multiparental populations and the use of whole-genome resequencing (QTL-seq) have accelerated the identification of QTLs, providing a robust framework for genetic dissection and crop improvement. This study underscores the critical role of QTL analysis in advancing our understanding of genetic variation and enhancing breeding programs in Triticeae.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL); Marker-assisted selection (MAS); Triticeae; Genetic mapping; Crop improvement