Dissecting the genetic basis of agronomic traits by multi-trait GWAS and genetic networks in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.).

ABSTRACT: Agronomic traits in maize (Zea mays L.) are complex and modulated by pleiotropic loci and interconnected genetic networks. However, the traditional single-trait genome-wide association study (GWAS) method often misses genetic associations among traits, overlooks pleiotropic effects, and underestimates shared regulatory mechanisms. In the current study, we employed multi-trait analysis of GWAS (MTAG) and constructed a genetic network to dissect the genetic architecture of 18 agronomic traits across a genetically diverse panel of 2,448 maize inbred lines. Incorporating MTAG significantly improved the detection of pleiotropic loci that had not been detected by single-trait GWAS. Using a genetic network, we uncovered numerous previously unrecognized connections among traits related to p

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12647461 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature