Genotype x environment interaction QTL mapping in plants: lessons from Arabidopsis

Plant growth and development are influenced by the genetic composition of the plant (G), the environment (E), and the interaction between them (G x E). To produce suitable genotypes for multiple environments, G x E should be accounted for and assessed in plant-breeding programs. Here, we review the genetic basis of G x E and its consequence for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in biparental and genome-wide association (GWA) mapping populations. We also consider the implications of G x E for understanding plant fitness trade-offs and evolutionary ecology.