Review article

Multi-parent populations in crops: a toolbox integrating genomics and genetic mapping with breeding

Michael ScottUCL Genetics Institute, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. [email protected]Olufunmilayo LadejobiUCL Genetics Institute, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. [email protected]Samer Mohamed AmerFaculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 23714, EgyptAlison R. BentleyThe John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UKJay M. BiernaskieDepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UKScott A. BodenSchool of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, AustraliaMatthew D. ClarkNatural History Museum, London, UKMatteo Dell’AcquaInstitute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, ItalyLaura E. DixonFaculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKCarla Valeria FilippiInstituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), INTA-CONICET, Nicolas Repetto y Los Reseros s/n, 1686, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaNick FradgleyThe John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UKKeith A. GardnerThe John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UKIan MackaySRUC, West Mains Road, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UKDonal M. O’SullivanUniversity of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AH, UKLawrence Percival‐AlwynThe John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UKManish RoorkiwalCenter of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, IndiaRakesh Kumar SinghInternational Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Academic City, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesMahendar ThudiCenter of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, IndiaRajeev K. VarshneyCenter of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, IndiaLuca VenturiniNatural History Museum, London, UKAlex WhanCSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, AustraliaJames CockramThe John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UKRichard MottUCL Genetics Institute, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

2020en

ABI

Abstract

Crop populations derived from experimental crosses enable the genetic dissection of complex traits and support modern plant breeding. Among these, multi-parent populations now play a central role. By mixing and recombining the genomes of multiple founders, multi-parent populations combine many commonly sought beneficial properties of genetic mapping populations. For example, they have high power and resolution for mapping quantitative trait loci, high genetic diversity and minimal population structure. Many multi-parent populations have been constructed in crop species, and their inbred germplasm and associated phenotypic and genotypic data serve as enduring resources. Their utility has grown from being a tool for mapping quantitative trait loci to a means of providing germplasm for breeding programmes. Genomics approaches, including de novo genome assemblies and gene annotations for the population founders, have allowed the imputation of rich sequence information into the descendent population, expanding the breadth of research and breeding applications of multi-parent populations. Here, we report recent successes from crop multi-parent populations in crops. We also propose an ideal genotypic, phenotypic and germplasm 'package' that multi-parent populations should feature to optimise their use as powerful community resources for crop research, development and breeding.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-0336-6

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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