Abstract
In the Mediterranean basin, the limited availability of rice genetic resources restricts the success of breeding programs. Although mutation induction is a powerful alternative to generate desired novel variations, current rice mutant resources have little relevance in the Mediterranean breeding programs that require well-adapted cultivars for maximum performance. In this work a genome-wide mutation induction has been used on rice cv Bahia, a japonica cultivar well adapted to the Mediterranean climate and cultural practices, to increase its genetic variability and to facilitate the generation and selection of interesting agronomical traits. Bahia mutant collections were generated by irradiating seed batches with either 30 Gy fast neutrons or 250 Gy gamma rays. After initial screening of M2 plants and followed by evaluation of M3 and M4 generations in open field, elite genotypes were selected. The selected lines carried morphological and physiological changes of agronomical interest such as earliness, culm height reduction, yield increase and spontaneous spots appearance in leaves. The mutants are useful as breeding materials for improving varieties in the Mediterranean.
Highlights
Mutagenesis is a useful technique to increase genetic variability in plant populations
The objective of this work is to generate, using Gamma rays (GR) and fast neutrons (FN), a new mutant collection from japonica Bahia that is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate and carries many desirable agronomic characteristics
Non-radiated Bahia plants were grown as control and Montsianell cultivar was used as height control
Summary
Mutagenesis is a useful technique to increase genetic variability in plant populations. Since 1960s, several collections of mutant lines from different species have been isolated and successfully used in many different areas of plant biology and crop breeding. New varieties have been developed either directly after mutagenic treatment or through crosses involving mutant varieties or mutant lines. In 2000, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) recorded 2,252 different mutant cultivars that had been officially released. Out of these new cultivars, 1,585 were generated directly after mutagenic treatment and selection in subsequent generations (Maluszynski et al, 2000). This technique has had great impact on the income of farmers and national economies, for example, in China and Japan.
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