**2. Historical background/development of mutation breeding**

The story of mutation and development of mutants in crop plants was first described in the book *Lula*, in 300 BC in China. The first natural mutant plant in cereals was found about 2317 years ago in China [2, 3]. Later, many aberrant plants with diverse variations were identified known as the first phase of mutation (1590-1868). The 2nd phase of the mutation was commenced in 1895 with the discovery of X-rays by W.K. Rontgen and the use of mutagens for the first time in 1897 to 1920 with the "Law of homologous series of variations" by N.I. Vavilov [2]. The chapter of mutation breeding was opened with the pioneered use of irradiation to create genetic variation by Lewis John Stadler in the 1920s.In almost the same time period Muller did his mutation experiments on fruit flies, Stadler was working on barley, maize and wheat manifested that radiation has power to create genetic variability in crop plants, although he was more interested in mutation breeding for fruit trees. Many geneticists believe the induction of mutation as a breakthrough in the history of genetics. American researchers were not so optimistic in their findings of the agricultural crops [3–5]. Chromosomal aberrations in Nicotiana were reported by Goodspeed and co-workers [6, 7]. The first-ever mutant variety "Vorsteland" of Tobacco with improved quality traits was released in Indonesia in 1934. Russian scientists, Delaunay and Sapehin reported the first wheat mutants with practical importance. German researchers started using mutation induction very early, but it was only theoretical in nature. The lecture on polymorphic factors in barley delivered by NILSSON-EHLE in Halle opened a new era in the use of induced mutation in Germany during the year 1939. In mid-thirties, he produced mutants at least one of those mutants [8] was equal to the mother genotype in yield performance. The experiments on induced mutation were extended after the cost for all work done till the 1940s was collectively funded by the A.B. Salts Jiiqvarn, Stockholm and Miirten Pehrsons Valsqvarn, Kristianstad, through Professor A. Akerman (head Swedish seed Association). This hard work led to the development of promising mutants in wheat, barley, oats, flax, soybeans, oleiferous and sweet lupine [8]. Stadler reported the production of solitary mutations and an increase in lethality by X-rays. Plants of different crop species respond differently to radiation doses. Cruciferae Seeds showed most insensitive sometimes tolerated 100.000r, whilst, the pea plants in contrast showed very sensitive with a maximum dose of only 10-20 r [9]. In the year 1942 and 1943, Eisleben Lien introduced comprehensive model experiments for barley. The use of induced mutation through radiation in crop breeding in Latin America was started during the 1960s initially in

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(**Figure 1**).

*Potential of Mutation Breeding to Sustain Food Security DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94087*

space on a variety of industries including agriculture [18].

**3. Mutation concept and its importance**

six countries viz., Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico [10]. Rice breeding through use induced mutation started by china in 1960 and working continuously to improve the conventional and hybrid varieties. The first variety was the mutant developed in a series called 12 'Zhefu'. The most widely cultivated mutant variety between 1986 and 1994 was the Chinese variety'Zhefu802', which was evolved from Simei No. 2'. [10] Also reported radiation-induced biological effects in coffee breeding. In 1964 after the establishment of joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, mutation breeding was acknowledged as a greater tool by plant breeders globally [11]. Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) released its first mutant wheat variety Jauhar-78 in 1979 with salinity tolerance and shattering resistance and Kiran-95 released in 1996 endowed with better grain quality, tolerance to salinity and rusts. In 1977 Pakistan released its first rice mutant variety 'Kashmir Basmati from Basmati 370.Over 1000 mutant varieties in various crops have been developed by China in collaboration with IAEA and FAO in the past 6 decades. China started the use of space mutagenesis for crop improvement in 1987, Chinese scientists stated to produce giant sweet peppers and improved quality traits in wheat and rice through rare inheritable genetic mutations using space radiation (satellites and high-altitude balloons) [12]. Using space induced radiation, a number of advantageous mutations to make a breakthrough in most desired crop yield was also achieved [13–15]. The officially released mutant varieties in China accumulate around 741 of 45 crops and ornamental species [16, 17]. Recently, China has announced the launching of a new satellite for experiments in

The word 'mutation' was coined by Hugo de Vries (1901) to represent a sudden heritable change occurring in the DNA of an organism caused artificially through irradiation, chemicals, viruses, transposons, or chromosomal aberrations that occur during reproductive processes [19]. These changes can be transferred to the offspring and are e differentiated in three general types namely gene mutation, chromosomal and genomic mutations. Induced mutation became the most frequently employed technique for developing novel improved germplasm in crop plants [20]. Mutation breeding is the application of mutagens to plant cells to accomplish crop breeding. Genetic variation makes the basis for the evolutionary process and breeding. In 1940, mutagenesis was adopted by the breeders as a tool that works faster to create mutations in plants [21]. Induced mutation breeding techniques have become most efficient, fast-tracking and widely exploited tools for crop improvement worldwide

Mutation can be differentiated in three general types namely gene mutation, chromosomal and genomic mutations. However, mutation breeding is the application of mutagens to plant cells to accomplish crop breeding. Mutation provides the fundamental basis for a genetic variation on which genetic advancement and genetic drift depend and a single base mutation can cause devastating or beneficial consequences or no effect at all. Mutation breeding has played a significant role in crop breeding and genetics and genomic studies by generating a large amount of genetic diversity. Concurrently, climatic changes also threatening the food supply chain on the global level, resulting in fast loss of biodiversity for food and agriculture. The ongoing unpredictable climatic changes are the core problem in reducing crop yields worldwide, thus continuous development of new improved varieties for sustainable production is unavoidable. While the rate of natural mutations in the

*Genetic Variation*

chronologically. The types of mutants and mutations reported in worldwide literature are described. The natural and spontaneous mutations are elaborated with practical examples. All types of physical and chemical mutants and their success stories are discussed citing examples from all over the world. Lastly, the impact of mutation breeding on food security is explained with practical examples and achievements so far. The future prospectus of mutation breeding has also been discussed to highlight the significance of this important plant breeding process. This chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of the process with successful commercial examples of mutation breeding and the potential of this technique to meet future food security challenges. This chapter includes (i) introduction, (ii) historical background/development of mutation breeding (iii) mutation concept and its importance (iv) mutant crop varieties and their impact on food security

(v) new breeding techniques (vi) prospects (vii)conclusions

**2. Historical background/development of mutation breeding**

The story of mutation and development of mutants in crop plants was first described in the book *Lula*, in 300 BC in China. The first natural mutant plant in cereals was found about 2317 years ago in China [2, 3]. Later, many aberrant plants with diverse variations were identified known as the first phase of mutation (1590-1868). The 2nd phase of the mutation was commenced in 1895 with the discovery of X-rays by W.K. Rontgen and the use of mutagens for the first time in 1897 to 1920 with the "Law of homologous series of variations" by N.I. Vavilov [2]. The chapter of mutation breeding was opened with the pioneered use of irradiation to create genetic variation by Lewis John Stadler in the 1920s.In almost the same time period Muller did his mutation experiments on fruit flies, Stadler was working on barley, maize and wheat manifested that radiation has power to create genetic variability in crop plants, although he was more interested in mutation breeding for fruit trees. Many geneticists believe the induction of mutation as a breakthrough in the history of genetics. American researchers were not so optimistic in their findings of the agricultural crops [3–5]. Chromosomal aberrations in Nicotiana were reported by Goodspeed and co-workers [6, 7]. The first-ever mutant variety "Vorsteland" of Tobacco with improved quality traits was released in Indonesia in 1934. Russian scientists, Delaunay and Sapehin reported the first wheat mutants with practical importance. German researchers started using mutation induction very early, but it was only theoretical in nature. The lecture on polymorphic factors in barley delivered by NILSSON-EHLE in Halle opened a new era in the use of induced mutation in Germany during the year 1939. In mid-thirties, he produced mutants at least one of those mutants [8] was equal to the mother genotype in yield performance. The experiments on induced mutation were extended after the cost for all work done till the 1940s was collectively funded by the A.B. Salts Jiiqvarn, Stockholm and Miirten Pehrsons Valsqvarn, Kristianstad, through Professor A. Akerman (head Swedish seed Association). This hard work led to the development of promising mutants in wheat, barley, oats, flax, soybeans, oleiferous and sweet lupine [8]. Stadler reported the production of solitary mutations and an increase in lethality by X-rays. Plants of different crop species respond differently to radiation doses. Cruciferae Seeds showed most insensitive sometimes tolerated 100.000r, whilst, the pea plants in contrast showed very sensitive with a maximum dose of only 10-20 r [9]. In the year 1942 and 1943, Eisleben Lien introduced comprehensive model experiments for barley. The use of induced mutation through radiation in crop breeding in Latin America was started during the 1960s initially in

**86**

six countries viz., Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico [10]. Rice breeding through use induced mutation started by china in 1960 and working continuously to improve the conventional and hybrid varieties. The first variety was the mutant developed in a series called 12 'Zhefu'. The most widely cultivated mutant variety between 1986 and 1994 was the Chinese variety'Zhefu802', which was evolved from Simei No. 2'. [10] Also reported radiation-induced biological effects in coffee breeding. In 1964 after the establishment of joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, mutation breeding was acknowledged as a greater tool by plant breeders globally [11]. Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) released its first mutant wheat variety Jauhar-78 in 1979 with salinity tolerance and shattering resistance and Kiran-95 released in 1996 endowed with better grain quality, tolerance to salinity and rusts. In 1977 Pakistan released its first rice mutant variety 'Kashmir Basmati from Basmati 370.Over 1000 mutant varieties in various crops have been developed by China in collaboration with IAEA and FAO in the past 6 decades. China started the use of space mutagenesis for crop improvement in 1987, Chinese scientists stated to produce giant sweet peppers and improved quality traits in wheat and rice through rare inheritable genetic mutations using space radiation (satellites and high-altitude balloons) [12]. Using space induced radiation, a number of advantageous mutations to make a breakthrough in most desired crop yield was also achieved [13–15]. The officially released mutant varieties in China accumulate around 741 of 45 crops and ornamental species [16, 17]. Recently, China has announced the launching of a new satellite for experiments in space on a variety of industries including agriculture [18].
