Genomic and environmental determinants and their interplay underlying phenotypic plasticity
) was found to vary in size and in direction along an environmental gradient that was quantified by photothermal time, a combination of two environmental factors (photoperiod and temperature). Gene-gene interaction was also contributing to the observed phenotypic plasticity. With the identified environmental index to quantitatively connect environments, a systematic genome-wide performance prediction framework was established through either genotype-specific reaction-norm parameters or genome-wide marker-effect continua. These parallel genome-wide approaches were demonstrated for in-season and on-target performance prediction by simultaneously exploiting genomics, environment profiling, and performance information. Improved understanding of mechanisms for phenotypic plasticity enables a concerted exploration that turns challenge into opportunity.