Ian Mackay

Mutation breeding for quantitative traits in the era of genomic selection

This study evaluates how genomic selection can capture polygenic variation from mutation breeding in wheat and tomato, showing improved predictive ability when mutations are shared among lines.

Opportunities to improve the recommendation of plant varieties under the Recommended List (RL) system

The paper evaluates current methods for predicting plant variety performance in the UK Recommended List system and suggests improving statistical models to better account for genetic relationships and environmental interactions.

Multi-trait ensemble genomic prediction and simulations of recurrent selection highlight importance of complex trait genetic architecture in long-term genetic gains in wheat

The paper uses multi-trait genomic prediction models and simulations to show that complex trait genetic architecture improves long-term genetic gains in wheat breeding.

Analysis of historical selection in winter wheat

The paper develops and applies RALLY, a selection mapping approach, to identify loci under historical selection in winter wheat varieties bred from 1916 to 2010.

Trends of genetic changes uncovered by Env- and Eigen-GWAS in wheat and barley

This paper uses EnvGWAS and EigenGWAS on historical wheat and barley varieties to identify genomic regions under selection without phenotyping, finding 16 barley and 10 wheat regions with adaptation-related introgressions.

Crafting for a better MAGIC: systematic design and test for multiparental advanced generation inter-cross population.

The paper evaluates MAGIC population designs and introduces a tool to create and test them, showing that certain designs improve haplotype diversity without requiring large crossing programs.

Limited haplotype diversity underlies polygenic trait architecture across 70 years of wheat breeding

The paper analyzes haplotype diversity and genetic associations in wheat breeding lines to understand polygenic trait architecture and breeding implications.

Genetic resistance to yellow rust infection of the wheat ear is controlled by genes controlling foliar resistance and flowering time

This paper identifies genetic loci controlling yellow rust resistance in wheat ears, showing that some loci also affect leaf resistance and flowering time.

Overcoming barriers to the registration of new varieties

The paper evaluates the current DUS system for plant variety registration using 805 UK barley varieties and advocates for a genomics-based approach to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Origin Specific Genomic Selection: a simple process to optimize the favourable contribution of parents to progeny

This paper introduces Origin Specific Genomic Selection (OSGS) to improve the introgression of beneficial exotic alleles in crop breeding by partitioning marker effects based on allele origin.

The effects of training population design on genomic prediction accuracy in wheat

This study evaluates how training population design affects genomic prediction accuracy in wheat, finding that larger training sets and related crosses improve prediction accuracy.