Multi-Environment GWAS Reveals Stable Pleiotropic QTL Hubs Controlling Agronomic, Quality, and Ionome Traits in Elite Oat
This study utilized a multi-environment genome-wide association study on 1,399 elite oat lines to identify 39 stable, pleiotropic SNP markers and 23 QTL hubs that simultaneously control agronomic performance, grain quality, and mineral or heavy-metal concentrations, offering new targets for biofortification and heavy-metal exclusion in oat breeding.