Induced Mutation to Enhance Plant Biodiversity and Genetic Resources for Intensification of Crop Production to Mitigate Climatic Changes

Abstract

Plant genetic diversity is a valuable resource for the production of food and other agricultural products. However, the loss of genetic resources is accelerating at an astonishing rate, especially in light of climate change. Induced mutation is one of the means to generate genetic variation in plants contributing to global food security. Mutation breeding has been widely used to create new genetic variations and identify important regulatory genes in order to create varieties with higher yields, more stable yields, and greater tolerance to climate change. Mutation breeding has been to upgrade the well-adapted plant varieties by altering one or two major traits. Mutagenesis can occur in any gene and are unpredictable, we also have a strong possibility of discovering novel traits. For example, tolerance for salt in sesame and orobanche in faba beans. Mutation breeding is a well-known method that allows plant breeders to work with farmers to create varieties of rice, barley, sesame, and other crops that are high-yielding and more resistant to disease, resulting in the intensification of crop production. This chapter will discuss the role of mutation breeding to intensify crop production to mitigate climate change.