ARS | Publication request: STRUCTURE OF LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM IN PLANTS

Submitted to: Annual Reviews of Plant Biology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: March 7, 2003
Publication Date: June 1, 2003
Citation: FLINT-GARCIA, S.A., THORNSBERRY, J.M., BUCKLER IV, E.S. STRUCTURE OF LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM IN PLANTS. ANNUAL REVIEWS OF PLANT BIOLOGY. 2003. v. 54. p. 357-374.

Technical Abstract: Although used extensively in medical genetics, association tests have had virtually no application in plant genetics, due in large part to nonfunctional, spurious associations caused by population structure. Recent developments in statistical methodologies, however, have extended association approaches for use with quantitative traits in plants. Because linkage disequilibrium (LD) dictates the experimental design needed to perform association analysis, in particular the number and spacing of molecular markers needed to cover a genome, a thorough understanding of LD structure is needed. With the exception of maize and Arabidopsis, little research regarding LD has been conducted in plant systems. In this article, we review the current body of knowledge concerning LD, such as those factors that affect LD and patterns of LD across living systems. We also discuss future key issues surrounding the successful application of LD in association studies across a wide range of species.