Pazhamala et al. 2021). Information about causal genes and their interactions could greatly help plant breeding, for example, to improve genomic prediction (Teng et al. 2020) or to provide targets for genome editing (Varshney et al. 2021). Causal gene discovery typically starts by finding an association between a trait and genetic variation in a plant population through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping.1.2. QTL mapping to identify the genetic component of plant traits Important target traits for plant breeding mostly show continuously distributed phenotypes. Such traits are called quantitative traits. A main characteristic of quantitative traits is that they are influenced by numerous genes (Hill 2010). For example, seed yield, the most important trait in oilseed rape (Brassica napus), was found to be associated with at least 85 distinct genomic locations (loci) (Shi et al. 2009). These trait-associated loci, individually known as quantitative trait locus (QTL), contain genes potentially controlling the trait.The most widely used method to identify QTLs is called linkage mapping, or simply QTL mapping (Bazakos et al. 2017). This method requires a population developed by crossing two or more parental plants that vary in the trait of interest, thus having different variants (alleles) of genes controlling the trait. The first filial (F1) generation is self-fertilised to generate a segregated F2 population, where the individuals have a combination of alleles from the parents. Self-fertilisation can be continued up to the F6 or even later generation to produce recombinant inbred lines with very high levels of allelic homozygosity (Loudet et al. 2002;Alonso-Blanco et al. 1998).In addition to a population, QTL mapping requires genetic markers to determine the genotypes of the parents and the offspring. Genetic markers are detectable DNA sequences located in the genome. These markers do not have to be located on the causal gene but could be in proximity so they can be inherited together (i.e., are in genetic linkage). To be informative, markers should be able to discriminate allelic variants in the mapping population (polymorphic). There are many types of genetic markers, of which the most widely used today are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), variations of a single nucleotide at a specific position in the genome (Collard and Mackill 2008;Collard et al. 2005).In general, QTL mapping analyses the correlation of the alleles of each marker with the corresponding trait values and defines QTL intervals based on markers showing significant correlation. From simple to more sophisticated, three common QTL mapping methods are single marker, simple interval, and composite interval mapping (Broman 2015). A QTL is usually presented as an interval indicating the location on the genome, together with the significance, the effect, and the most significant marker in the QTL. Plant breeders routinely use QTLs for marker-assisted selection. However, QTLs do not directly provide information about the biology of the trait. Sub...