Mutagenesis for wheat improvement in the genomics era

Abstract

During the last decade, with the unfolding of new felds of genomics,
bioinformatics and high throughput technologies for genome analysis,
there has been an increased interest in induced mutations within the
scientifc community of crop improvement. Induced mutations are now
being widely used for developing improved crop varieties and for
the discovery of genes controlling important traits and understanding
the functions and mechanisms of actions of these genes. TILLING
(Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) represents an extension
of the use of spontaneous and induced mutants in plant breeding and
allows the direct identifcation of benefcial genetic changes in genes
with known functions and their use as the genetic markers for selection.
TILLING has been used for manipulation of starch composition (high
amylose and waxy starch), grain hardness, high molecular weight gluten
subunits (HMW-GS) composition, phytic acid level, disease resistance
(rusts, powdery mildew and root pathogens), vernalization and seed
dormancy. Because the TILLING population is a permanent resource,
the results of basic scientifc research can be effciently translated into
crop improvement as new information about the functions of potential
gene targets becomes available.