Forest tree breeding using genomic Markov causal models: A new approach to genomic tree breeding improvement

Traditionally, a pedigree-based individual-tree mixed model (ABLUP) has been used in forest genetic evaluations to identify individuals with the highest breeding values (BVs). ABLUP is a Markovian causal model, as any individual BV can be expressed as a linear regression on its parental BVs. The regression coefficients are based on the genealogical parent-offspring relationship and are equal to one-half. This study aimed to develop and apply two new causal models that replace these fixed coefficients with ones calculated using genomic information, specifically derived from the genomic-based relationship matrix. We compared the performance of these genomic-based causal models with ABLUP and non-causal GBLUP models. To do so, we evaluated a four-generation population of Eucalyptus grandis, consisting of 3,082 genotyped trees with 14,033 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Six traits were assessed in 1,219 trees across the first three breeding cycles. The heritability and genetic means..., , , # Forest tree breeding using genomic Markov causal models: A new approach to genomic tree breeding improvement

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pzgmsbczh](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pzgmsbczh)

## Description of the data and file structure

GENERAL INFORMATION

1\. Title of Dataset: Forest tree breeding using genomic Markov causal models: A new approach to genomic tree breeding improvement

2\. Author Information

A. Principal Investigator Contact Information

Name: Esteban Javier Jurcic

Institution: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA)

Address: De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, 1686, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information

Name: Eduardo Pablo Cappa

Institution: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - CONICET

Address: De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, 1686, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Email: [cappa.eduar...,