Genome-Wide Association Study using Whole-Genome Sequencing Rapidly Identifies New Genes Influencing Agronomic Traits in Rice

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) can be a powerful tool for the identification of genes associated with agronomic traits in crop species, but it is often hindered by population structure and the large extent of linkage disequilibrium. In the present study, we performed identification of agronomically important genes in rice using GWAS based on whole-genome sequencing, followed by the screening of candidate genes based on the estimated effect of nucleotide polymorphisms. Using this approach, we identified four novel genes associated with agronomic traits. Some genes were undetectable by standard single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, but were detected using gene-based association analysis. This study provides fundamental insights relevant to the rapid identification of genes associated with agronomic traits using GWAS, and will accelerate future efforts aimed at crop improvement.