RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Genomic selection strategies for clonally propagated crops
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.06.15.152017
DO 10.1101/2020.06.15.152017
A1 Christian R. Werner
A1 R. Chris Gaynor
A1 Daniel J. Sargent
A1 Alessandra Lillo
A1 Gregor Gorjanc
A1 John M. Hickey
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/15/2020.06.15.152017.abstract
AB For genomic selection in clonal breeding programs to be effective, crossing parents should be selected based on genomic predicted cross performance unless dominance is negligible. Genomic prediction of cross performance enables a balanced exploitation of the additive and dominance value simultaneously. Here, we compared different strategies for the implementation of genomic selection in clonal plant breeding programs. We used stochastic simulations to evaluate six combinations of three breeding programs and two parent selection methods. The three breeding programs included i) a breeding program that introduced genomic selection in the first clonal testing stage, and ii) two variations of a two-part breeding program with one and three crossing cycles per year, respectively. The two parent selection methods were i) selection of parents based on genomic estimated breeding values, and ii) selection of parents based on genomic predicted cross performance. Selection of parents based on genomic predicted cross performance produced faster genetic gain than selection of parents based on genomic estimated breeding values because it substantially reduced inbreeding when the dominance degree increased. The two-part breeding programs with one and three crossing cycles per year using genomic prediction of cross performance always produced the most genetic gain unless dominance was negligible. We conclude that i) in clonal breeding programs with genomic selection, parents should be selected based on genomic predicted cross performance, and ii) a two-part breeding program with parent selection based on genomic predicted cross performance to rapidly drive population improvement has great potential to improve breeding clonally propagated crops.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.