Led by Philip Greenspoon Summary The GenoForage project will boost forage breeding by developing, testing, and deploying bespoke quantitative genetic methodology and breeding strategies that leverage the power of genomic data. Most forage breeding programmes are still based on phenotypic selection and have not yet benefited from the power of genomic data. Genomic selection is rapidly augmenting or even replacing phenotypic selection in all major crops, as well as in livestock and aquaculture. However, allogamous perennial forage crops are affected by inbreeding depression and bespoke solutions are required. To develop an impactful genomic breeding strategy for forage crops that could double rates of genetic gain, the GenoForage project will: i) gather and analyse real and simulated data to estimate additive and dominance genetic associations between genomic markers and multi-trait phenotypes, ii) analyse past genetic trends in means, variances, and correlations for additive and dominance components of genetic value, including inbreeding depression and heterosis, and iii) develop a breeding strategy that will leverage genomic data to shorten long breeding and development times and to optimise the crossing plan for total genetic value, hence minimising inbreeding depression. Results of the GenoForage project will increase the rates of genetic gain in forages to boost the potential of agriculture and respond to climate change. This article was published on 2024-09-02
