GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES ACROSS CROPS FOR PREDICTIVE BREEDING UNDER CHANGING CLIMATES

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have advanced the understanding of complex agronomic traits; however, their translation into practical crop improvement remains limited. This review provides a cross-crop synthesis of GWAS applications to identify conserved and crop-specific genetic architectures underlying stress resilience and yield stability. Moving beyond descriptive analysis, we propose an integrative framework that connects GWAS outputs with predictive breeding by incorporating phenomics, pangenomics, and environmental interactions. We highlight how conserved pathways enable transferable genetic insights across species, while crop-specific adaptations support targeted breeding strategies. Key challenges, including genotype-by-environment interactions, phenotyping limitations, and population structure, are critically evaluated in the context of predictive accuracy. By bridging gene discovery with breeding application, this work offers a conceptual roadmap for next-generation, data-driven crop improvement under changing environmental conditions.