Implementation of genomic selection in public-sector plant breeding programs: Current status and opportunities

Abstract: The usefulness of genomic selection (GS) for improvement of complex traits has been demonstrated in plant and animal breeding. While fully adopted in the livestock sector and commercial plant breeding, the implementation of GS in public-sector plant breeding programs lags. The goal of this review is to discuss advancements in GS implementation and opportunities for near-term and long-term adoption in public-sector plant breeding programs. We also highlighted specific applications of GS for cultivar development ordered by what we believe to be their feasibility, where feasibility is defined by cost, disruption to current breeding practices, and risk.