Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), also known as linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping, have emerged as a powerful approach for dissecting complex quantitative traits in crop plants. This method exploits historical recombination and natural genetic diversity to identify marker-trait associations with high resolution. Unlike traditional QTL mapping, GWAS utilizes diverse germplasm panels and high-density molecular markers to detect loci controlling agronomic, stress tolerance, and quality traits. The approach integrates precise phenotyping, genome-wide genotyping, population structure analysis, and statistical modeling to identify significant genomic regions. GWAS has contributed substantially to crop improvement through marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and exploitation of novel alleles from diverse germplasm. Despite challenges such as population stratification and limited detection of rare alleles, advancements in high-throughput sequencing and phenotyping technologies are enhancing its effectiveness. Future integration of genomic and phenomic datasets will further accelerate gene discovery and the development of climateresilient and high-yielding crop varieties.