Mutation Breeding
Theory and Practical Applications

An essential and comprehensive summary for all plant breeders.

A. M. van Harten (Author)

9780521036825, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 June 2007

368 pages, 16 b/w illus. 5 tables
24.6 x 18.8 x 2 cm, 0.666 kg

'… it was a pleasure to read this book. It offers a large amount of information about mutation breeding in a well-balanced presentation. I recommend this book not only to breeders, but also to geneticists, who will profit from reading it.' F. Siegemund

During the 1970s and 1980s, the technique of mutation breeding made a substantial, although often poorly recognized, contribution to crop improvement. Later, as the techniques of molecular biology become more widely adopted by plant breeders, this comprehensive summary sets mutation breeding in that context and relates it to other breeding techniques, including those most recently developed. The book opens with a general introduction to plant breeding and a review of the development of mutation breeding, including consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the technique. Chapters covering the underlying theory are followed by sections which consider more practical aspects such as in vitro techniques, techniques used for seed propagated crops and techniques used for vegetatively propagated crops. Case studies and examples are included throughout and a list of almost 1400 references provides a valuable resource for those new to the field.

Preface
1. General introduction
2. History of mutation breeding
3. Nature and types of mutation
4. Induction of mutations
5. In vitro techniques for mutation breeding
6. Mutation breeding in seed propagated crops
7. Mutation breeding in vegetatively propagated crops
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Agriculture & farming [TV]