solGS: A Web-Based Tool for Genomic Selection

Genomic selection (GS) promises to improve prediction accuracy of breeding values and genetic gain per unit time for quantitative traits compared to traditional breeding methods. Its reliance on dense genome-wide markers and statistical complexity, however, is a serious challenge in data management, analysis and sharing results. We have developed a web-based tool, called solGS, to meet this challenge. The tool has an organism agnostic database to store phenotype and genotype data, and experimental metadata. It has an intuitive web-interface to build prediction models and predict genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) of selection populations. It uses RR-BLUP for the statistical modeling and GBLUP method for breeding values estimation. You can simultaneously build prediction models and estimate GEBVs for multiple traits, calculate selection index, and estimate genetic correlations among traits. You can view analysis output in interactive plots on the browser and also download it in text format. solGS is, currently, used by the NextGen Cassava Breeding Project (http://nextgencassava.org) and implemented on http://cassavabase.org/solgs. GS breeders can adapt the tool for any organism.