Genome‐Wide Association Study to Identify Candidate Genes for Field Traits and Seed Quality of Bread Wheat ( <scp> <i>Triticum aestivum</i> </scp> L.) Using the 90K SNP Array

ABSTRACT Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the three major staple cereals globally and is a crucial component of the human diet. This study was conducted to explore how understanding the genetic basis of agronomic traits can enhance wheat improvement, utilizing genome‐wide association study (GWAS) as a useful tool to identify genetic loci related to diverse phenotypic traits. In this study, 11 major quantitative agronomic traits of 288 wheat accessions were evaluated over 4‐years across three different regions. A total of 30,235 high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for genotyping to identify genetic loci associated with these traits. Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values were estimated across environments, and GWAS based on a mixed linear model (MLM) identified a total of 131 significant marker‐trait associations (MTAs). Through LD decay analysis and tissue‐specific gene expression analysis, 79 putative candidate genes associated with these MTAs were suggested. In addition, three kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) markers associated with heading date were developed, and their effects were validated. These findings provide a useful basis for understanding the genetic factors underlying agronomic traits in wheat, while further validation is required before direct application in breeding.