title: Can functional hologenomics aid tackling current challenges in plant breeding?
abstract: Molecular plant breeding usually overlooks the genetic variability that arises from the association of plants with endophytic microorganisms, when looking at agronomic interesting target traits. This source of variability can have crucial effects on the functionality of the organism considered as a whole (the holobiont), and therefore can be selectable in breeding programs. However, seeing the holobiont as a unit for selection and improvement in breeding programs requires novel approaches for genotyping and phenotyping. These should not focus just at the plant level, but also include the associated endophytes and their functional effects on the plant, to make effective desirable trait screenings. The present review intends to draw attention to a new research field on functional hologenomics that if associated with adequate phenotyping tools could greatly increase the efficiency of breeding programs.
authors: Amaia
authors: A
authors: Nogales
authors: Tânia
authors: T
authors: Nobre
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Valadas
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Ragonezi
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Döring
authors: Alexios
authors: A
authors: Polidoros
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Arnholdt-Schmitt
mesh_terms: D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D010641:Phenotype; D000069600:Plant Breeding; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci
keywords: endophytes; genetic variability; holobiont; molecular markers; phenotype; plant functionality