Identification of Genomic Regions Associated with Agronomical Traits of Bread Wheat Under Two Levels of Salinity Using GWAS

Soil salinity is a major environmental stress that adversely affects the growth, development, productivity, and quality of crop species, in particular, arid semi-arid regions. Identification chromosomal regions associated with agronomic traits under crucial for improving tolerance wheat. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was employed to evaluate 289 elite lines Wheat Association Mapping Initiative (WAMI) population low (LS) high (HS) conditions using 15,737 SNP markers seven agronomical traits. The genotypes responded differently different environments all traits, highlighting genetic diversity within WAMI response salt stress, where heritability ranged from moderate (37%) (88%). GWAS identified 118 120 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) LS HS conditions, respectively. Significant some more than one phenotypic trait observed, indicating possible pleiotropic or indirect effects. A degree linkage disequilibrium (> 52%) observed among SNPs on chromosomes, epistatic interaction. index (STI) exhibited positive correlation grain yield per plant (GYP) both (R2 = 0.851–0.856). Linear regression analysis between STI GYP indicated best predicting high-yielding genotypes. results present as valuable source potential Furthermore, our findings emphasize powerful tool promoting wheat breeding through accurate identification molecular significantly which essential marker-assisted breeding.