Genome-wide association study revealed loci linked to post-drought recovery and traits related to persistence of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis)

Association analysis has been proved as a powerful tool for genetic dissection of complex traits. This study was conducted to identify marker-trait associations for recovery, persistence, and as well as finding stable associations. In this study, a diverse panel of polycross derived progenies of smooth bromegrass was phenotyped under normal and water stress, during three consecutive years. Association analysis was performed between nine important agronomic traits along with three seasonal growth activity indices based on 535 SRAP markers. Population structure analysis identified five main subpopulations possessing significant genetic differences. Association analysis using mixed linear mode1 identified 339 and 233 marker-trait associations under normal and water stress environments, respectively. Some of these markers were associated with more than one trait; which can be attributed to pleiotropic effects or to a number of tightly linked genes affecting several traits. If the effectiveness of these markers in genetic control of these traits is validated, they could be potentially used for initiation of marker-assisted selection and targeted trait introgression of smooth bromegrass under normal and water stress environments. HighlightIn this study, stable marker-trait associations (MTAs) between years and moisture regimes (normal and water stress environments) were identified in a diverse panel of polycross derived progenies of smooth bromegrass.