Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Phenomic and Genomic Prediction of Maize Agronomic and Composition Traits Across Environments

For nearly two decades, genomic selection has supported efforts to increase genetic gains in plant and animal improvement programs. However, novel phenomic strategies helping to predict complex traits in maize have proven beneficial when integrated into across- and within-environment genomic prediction models. One phenomic data modality is near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which records reflectance values of biological samples (e.g., maize kernels) based on chemical composition. Predictions of seven maize agronomic traits and three kernel composition traits across two years (2011-2012) and two management conditions (water stressed and well-watered) were conducted using combinations of NIRS and genomic data within four different cross-validation prediction scenarios. In aggregate, models incorporating NIRS data alongside genomic data improved predictive ability over models using only genomic data in 5 of 28 trait/cross-validation scenarios for across-environment prediction and 15 of 28 trait/environment scenarios for within-environment prediction, while the model with NIRS data alone had the highest prediction ability in only 1 of 28 scenarios for within-environment prediction. Potential causes of the surprisingly lower phenomic than genomic prediction power in this study are discussed, including sample size, sample homogenization, and low GxE. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) implicated known (i.e., MADS69, ZCN8, sh1, wx1, du1) and unknown candidate genes linked to plant height and flowering-related agronomic traits as well as compositional traits such as kernel protein and starch content. This study demonstrated that including NIRS with genomic markers is a viable method to predict multiple complex traits with improved predictive ability and elucidate underlying biological causes. Key messageGenomic and NIRS data from a maize diversity panel were used for prediction of agronomic and kernel composition traits while uncovering candidate genes for kernel protein and starch content.