Challenges for QTL Analysis in Crops

Quantitative trait loci, a genetic concept for explaining the inheritance of non-Mendelian traits in 1940s, have been realized as particular fragments of chromosome even unique genes in most crops in 21st century. However, only very a small portion of QTL has been screened out by geneticists comparing to a great number of genes underneath the quantitative traits. These identified QTL even have been seldom used into breeding program because crop breeders may not find the QTL in their breeding populations in their field station. Several key points will be proposed to meet the challenges of QTL analysis today: a fine mapping population and the related reference genetic map, QTL evaluation in multiple environments, recognizing real QTL with small genetic effect, map integration.