Plant Breeding and Genetics
We assist FAO and IAEA Member States in the implementation of modern and competitive plant breeding programmes using radiation induced mutation and efficiency enhancing biotechnologies such as in vitro techniques, molecular markers and
genomics. The overall aim is to enhance food security through sustainable crop production using strategic fundamental and applied crops sciences research, technology transfer, capacity building, policy advice, and information management All efforts focus
on improving yield and quality by enhancing diversification and adaptability of crops for domestic use as well as for export markets hence contributing to income generation and socio-economic development.
Highlights
International Symposium on Induced Mutations in Plants (ISIMP), Vienna, Austria, 12 - 15 August 2008.
On the 80th anniversary of mutation induction in crop plants, the International Symposium on Induced Mutations in Plants (ISIMP), organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the Joint FAO/IAEA
Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, was held in the Vienna International Centre, 12-15 August 2008. Full Story »
Rewarding Rice Mutant Varieties in Viet Nam, VIE/5/015.
A dozen mutant varieties have been developed by the counterparts of the IAEA's TCP VIE/5/015 working on rice improvement for better quality and tolerance to bio/abiotic stresses using mutation techniques and biotechnologies in Viet Nam.
Full Story »
Flowers Blooming - A follow-up of a previous TCP in Thailand, THA/5/045.
The IAEA had been working with Kasetsart University in Thailand on building capacities for plant mutation breeding through several TCPs. The most recent one, Radiation induced mutation for bean and chrysanthemum (THA/5/045), was completed in 2001.
Full Story »
Improvement of Drought Tolerance in Chickpea through Induced Mutations, PAK/5/044.
This project is under the umbrella of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and hosted by the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in Peshawar (NWFP and FATA Provinces). Excellent work is being accomplished there in terms of crop breeding, particularly in mutation
breeding. Full Story »