International Journal of Plant Biology (Apr 2024)

Genomic Prediction of Root Traits via Aerial Traits in Soybean Using Canonical Variables

  • Vitor Seiti Sagae,
  • Noé Mitterhofer Eiterer Ponce de Leon da Costa,
  • Matheus Massariol Suela,
  • Dalton de Oliveira Ferreira,
  • Ana Carolina Campana Nascimento,
  • Camila Ferreira Azevedo,
  • Felipe Lopes da Silva,
  • Moysés Nascimento

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb15020020
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 2
pp. 242 – 252

Abstract

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The phenotypic evaluation of root traits in soybeans presents challenges in breeding due to its high cost and the requirement for experimental plot destruction. Establishing relationships between aerial and root traits is crucial, given the relative ease of phenotypic evaluations for aerial traits. Therefore, this study aims to utilize the canonical correlation technique to estimate latent variables, subsequently employing GBLUP for the genomic prediction of the root traits (length, volume, surface area, and dry mass) using phenotypic information from aerial part traits (hypocotyl diameter and dry mass). Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique in predicting the root part, even when not directly evaluated. The agreement observed between the top 10% of individuals selected based on the canonical variable and each root trait individually was considered moderate or substantial. This enables the simultaneous selection of genotypes based on both trait groups, providing a valuable approach for soybean breeding programs.

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