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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Corn Host Plant Resistance Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252927
Title: Association Mapping for Enhancing Maize Genetic Improvement

Author
item YAN, JIANGING - China Agricultural University
item Warburton, Marilyn
item CROUCH, JONATHAN - International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2011
Citation: Yan, J., Warburton, M.L., Crouch, J. 2011. Association mapping for enhancing maize genetic improvement. Crop Science. 51:433-449.

Interpretive Summary: Recent advances in association mapping in maize have progressed to the point that the routine application of this technology is providing many new genes and markers for both quantitative and qualitative traits. These may be used for more rapid trait improvement via plant breeding, but the plethora of different options for association mapping and ways in which the results can be applied make it difficult for many breeders to incorporate these new results into their plant improvement programs. This paper is a review of the advances, new options for running association analyses, and new ways of using the resulting data, which will allow scientists to use the new techniques and data to the fullest extent possible.

Technical Abstract: Association mapping through linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis is a powerful tool for the dissection of complex agronomic traits and for the identification of alleles that can contribute to the enhancement of a target trait. With the developments of high throughput genotyping techniques and advanced statistical approaches as well as the assembling and characterization of multiple association mapping panels, maize has become the model crop for association analysis. In this paper, we review progress in maize association mapping and the use of candidate genes and gene-based markers in maize association mapping studies, which has generated particularly promising results. In addition, recent developments in genome-wide genotyping techniques promise to improve the power of association mapping and refine our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits. New challenges and opportunities are associated with genome-wide analysis studies, and are discussed here. Current and future impacts of association mapping on maize improvement are discussed, along with the potential benefits for poor people in developing countries who are dependent upon this crop for their food security and livelihoods.