In this bachelor thesis, we compare genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and recombinant mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in plants. The methods differ in the types of populations used, resolution, statistical power, sensitivity to population structure, and study duration. GWAS uses natural populations or diversity panels with short-range LD, enabling high resolution and the simultaneous detection of multiple loci, but it is sensitive to population stratification and relatedness, therefore, it requires appropriate statistical corrections and replication across different environments. Recombinant mapping is based on biparental populations in which the type of cross and the parental genotypes are known, resulting in lower resolution but greater statistical power to detect rare alleles. Replication across environments is facilitated by permanent, predominantly homozygous populations and resolution can be further improved with multi-parent populations. The methods are complementary, beacuse GWAS enables rapid identification of candidate regions, while recombinant mapping validates these detections and estimates the effects of QTL on complex traits. Their combined use accelerates gene identification and its incorporation into breeding programs.
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