UNRAVELING THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF COMPLEX TRAITS IN PLANTS

Complex traits are those whose inheritance does not follow simple and predictable patterns. They are not governed by a single locus, instead, they are determined by several loci and are influenced by the environment. Most of the traits with agronomic interest and economic importance such as resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and yield, among others, are quantitative traits and their study is based on dissecting the underlying genetic architecture, the number of loci responsible for the variance of a quantitative trait, the relevant contribution made by each locus and their interaction with the environment. This review provides the most relevant conceptual bases for the study of the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits in plants. The methodologies that allow identifying the loci and candidate genes that govern this type of traits are described, such as QTL mapping by linkage and association mapping. In addition, the incorporation of these loci in phenotype prediction strategies such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, exhibits the benefits and limitations of these approaches. Finally, the challenges and perspectives facing the study of the genetic architecture of complex traits in plants are discussed.