Breeding of Vegetable, Spice and Tuber crops (2+1)

Applications in crop improvement

• Development of improved varieties- All over the world, 1542 improved varieties have been developed in different crops (IAEA, 1991)
• Induction of male sterility- Use of GMS &CMS lines helps in reducing the cost of hybrid seed production
• Production of haploids- Use of X rays Irradiated pollens has helped in the Production of haploids in many crops.
• Creation of genetic variability- In asexually propagated crop like potato, somatic mutations may be useful.
• Overcoming self incompatibility –Mutation of S gene by irradiation leads to restoration of self fertility in self incompatible species.
• Improvement in adaptation- Induced mutations helped in improving the adaptation of some crop species.