Mutation breeding

About: Mutation breeding is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 531 publications have been published within this topic receiving 6730 citations. The topic is also known as: variation breeding.

Physical and Chemical Mutagenesis for Improvement of Chilli ( !"#$%&'(!))&&' L.)

Abstract: A comparison of the effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for inducing mutation in chilli seeds of 10 different doses along with one respective control. Seeds were treated with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kR of gamma rays and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mM of ethyl methanesulfonate. The M1 generation was produced from these mutagen treated seeds. Several unique and interesting chlorophyll and viable mutants were obtained in the M generation (subsequent generation derived from the seeds of M 2 1 generation). Chlorophyll mutations are used to evaluate the genetic effects of various mutagens. The spectra of chlorophyll mutants albina, chlorina, viridis and lutescens were most frequently. In M generation, gamma 2 rays induced higher proportion of chlorophyll mutants than EMS. Frequency of viable mutants was, in general, higher in treatments with EMS than with gamma rays. Treatment with 30 mM EMS was more effective in inducing desirable mutations at the highest frequency. The desirable viable mutants of long and dark red pods, base non-bulging fruits, flower mutant (normally pentamerous flower but an abnormal behavior of trimerous, tetramerous, heptamerous), two or three flowers on a peduncle, profuse branching and pod setting and genic male sterility were isolated from different treatments. Lethality or biological injury, apparent as reduced germination, increased with increasing dose of gamma rays and EMS. Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency generally increased with increasing dose of EMS. Mutation breeding will significantly increase the chilli amelioration both the effectiveness and efficacy of induced variability of desirable traits to develop improved genotypes.

Mutation Breeding of Salvia coccinea with Ethyl Methanesulfonate

Abstract: Salvia coccinea is a valuable flowering annual that attracts hummingbirds and bees to the garden, but few cultivars are commercially available. There is a limited range of petal colors and no leaf variegation. This research aimed to improve the ornamental value of S. coccinea by inducing mutations with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). The standard, red-flowered species was selected for treatment by exposing seeds to 0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, or 1.2% EMS for 8, 12, or 24 hours. The optimal treatment rate was determined to be 1.2% EMS for 8 hours, which generated desirable mutations near the median lethal dose (LD50). The M1 population had a 53% germination rate and was completely morphologically uniform. By the M2, mutations included differences in leaf shape and flower size in addition to albina, chlorina, virescens, and chimeral chlorophyll changes. A 1% mutation rate was achieved in this breeding program with seven unstable mutations and six stable mutations. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were measured to determine differences in chlorophyll content between lethal albina mutations, chartreuse chlorina and virescens mutations, and typical leaf color. Future work will investigate the stability and heritability of chlorophyll variegation by hybridizing these selections with coral-flowered accessions of S. coccinea.

Induced Mutation Technology for Sugarcane Improvement: Status and Prospects

Abstract: Induced mutation technology is a powerful means to introduce novel genetic variability for use in crop improvement. Induced mutants have been developed in several crop plants and economic use of the mutant varieties has demonstrated their potential across the globe. Sugarcane is an important cash crop cultivated primarily for its distinctive sucrose accumulation ability. Being a vegetatively propagated crop, mutagenesis in sugarcane can be a good means of induction of genetic variation to overcome problems associated with conventional breeding such as longer life cycle, poor fertility, and narrow genetic base. In this regard, in vitro cultures have provided an excellent resource for induced mutagenesis. Strategies of selection for different desirable traits at the cellular level followed by rigorous ex vitro evaluation and field testing have been successfully adopted for the isolation of sugarcane mutants carrying improved traits. It should also be noted that such mutants for important agronomic traits can be readily adopted by breeders without the regulatory and licensing restrictions that are often applied to transgenic lines. Till date, the Mutant Variety Database (MVD) of FAO-IAEA has listed 13 officially registered mutant varieties of sugarcane developed through induced mutagenesis demonstrating the potential of induced mutagenesis for sugarcane improvement. These induced mutants have been developed for improved traits including disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and agronomic yield and are evaluated for performance and stability. Induced mutations offer a valuable resource for the discovery of genes controlling important traits and understanding the functional basis of the mutant genes. Mutation discovery in polyploids like sugarcane is challenging and currently, TILLING platforms are being developed. In addition, advanced mutagenesis tools based on genome editing have been initiated to target agronomically useful genes. This article outlines the techniques and success of mutagenesis strategies and isolation of desirable mutants for use in sugarcane improvement.