Progress and prospect of genome wide association study (GWAS) in forest trees

With the rapid development of next-generation genome sequencing technologies, the application of systems genetics based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) strategy is extensively increasing in revealing the genetic variation underlying complex traits and dissecting the genetic regulation mechanism of key genes in forest trees. Firstly, we introduced the core theories, research methods and progress of GWAS in the wood traits and adaptation of forest trees. Next, we proposed a joint use of high-throughput phenome platform, multiple genetic markers, multi-omics data and the models of additive, dominance and epistasis to resolve the problem of “missing heritability” of quantitative traits in forest trees. Finally, we provided an outlook of the GWAS strategy in the molecular breeding of forest trees.