Marker‐Assisted Selection in Plant Breeding: From Publications to Practice

TLDR

The number of publications on molecular markers in plant breeding has surged, yet most are donor‑driven with limited applied focus, causing many markers to fail translation due to logistical and genetic constraints, though advances in gene‑based markers, QTL mapping, and cheaper genotyping may improve success rates. The study notes that key challenges, particularly for complex traits, must be addressed before marker‑assisted selection can fully realize its potential in public sector breeding programs. The authors emphasize the development of high‑throughput precision phenotyping for QTL mapping, deeper insight into genotype‑by‑environment interaction and epistasis, and publicly available computational tools tailored to molecular breeding needs.

Abstract

The volume of publications on the development and to a lesser extent the application of molecular markers in plant breeding has increased dramatically during the last decade. However, most of the publications result from investments from donors with a strategic science quality or biotech advocacy mandate leading to insufficient emphasis on applied value in plant breeding. Converting promising publications into practical applications requires the resolution of many logistical and genetical constraints that are rarely addressed in journal publications. This results in a high proportion of published markers failing at one or more of the translation steps from research arena to application domain. The rate of success is likely to increase due to developments in gene‐based marker development, more efficient quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping procedures, and lower cost genotyping systems. However, some fundamental issues remain to be resolved, particularly regarding complex traits, before marker‐assisted selection realizes its full potential in public sector breeding programs. These include the development of high throughput precision phenotyping systems for QTL mapping, improved understanding of genotype by environment interaction and epistasis, and development of publicly available computational tools tailored to the needs of molecular breeding programs.