Role of crop physiology in predicting gene-to-phenotype relationships

Robust crop physiological modelling could become an essential tool in explaining crop behaviour using insights from functional genomics. Current crop models can predict crop performance over a range of environmental conditions. Recently, quantitative trait loci (QTL) information has been incorporated into crop models, which has shown the potential for narrowing genotypephenotype gaps and for applying QTL-based models to the analysis of genotype-by-environment interactions. For further progress, the model structure must be upgraded to allow more physiological feedback features to be incorporated. Model input parameters should be designed to be grounded potentially in gene-level understanding. Integration of crop modelling into genetic and genomic research should enhance the future position of crop physiology in 'plant breeding by design'.