Mutagenesis in crop improvement: methods and applications

Abstract

Mutagenesis is the process of creating mutations in an organism's DNA. Induced mutagenesis can be used to create crops with higher yields, better quality, disease and insect resistance, and stress tolerance, all of which are critical for food security and sustainable agriculture. Physical, biological and chemical mutagens can induce mutations in seeds and other plant propagules, followed by selection for superior agronomic traits in the first generation. The phenotypic stability of agronomic features generated by the mutagenesis process is established in the second and third generations, with the following generations undergoing further evaluation. Only mutant lines exhibiting the desired characteristics are chosen as new varieties or parent lines for a breeding program. New crop varieties are developed around the world utilizing induced mutagenesis techniques such as irradiation or chemical mutagens. In this review, we examine the different approaches to mutagenesis, their applications, challenges and prospects for increasing crop productivity and quality.