Complex genetic architecture underlying the plasticity of tobacco leaf width provides insight into across-environment genomic prediction.

Genetic loci associated with tobacco leaf width mean and plasticity show environment-dependent effects, with 14 LWm and 43 LWp loci identified in a MAGIC population.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity is vital for improving crop adaptation to climate change, yet the genetic architecture underlying plasticity remains incompletely understood.
• What they did: The study analyzed 594 tobacco individuals, identifying loci linked to leaf width mean and plasticity, and developed a GEAI model incorporating genotype-environment interactions to enhance prediction accuracy.
• The result: Incorporating environmental data increased cross-environment prediction accuracy by 7.2-8.7%, providing insights into genetic effects on plasticity and informing breeding strategies for variable environments.