Management of facilities for radiation breeding research

Radiation breeding research center in Advanced Radiation Technology Institute is the only domestic institute which is in charge of cultivar breeding and research development using radiation. To support its role, we are carrying out this project setting improvement of quality of services provided using radiation breeding facilities and contribution to invigoration of radiation-fused research development by efficient management of facilities as the final goals. Especially, we focused on stabilization of management system of radiation breeding research center and improvement of technical support to companies, universities, and institutes at this stage of project. In management of facilities for radiation breeding, introduction of new equipment, improvement of performance of the existing facilities, repair of decrepit facilities, and replacement of Cobalt radiation source in gamma-phytotron were performed. In addition, eighteen times of chronic irradiation services were provided. A total of 52 SCI papers were supported by these activities. In supports for management of plant materials and distribution of germplasm, a total of 27,017 lines in fifteen crops were managed and a total of 5,226 kg of seeds for self-developed new cultivars were distributed to 867 farmers and 43 institutes for free. Finally, for technical support and promotion to external users, this project hosted education course on radiation breeding technology every year and provided technical guidance and four workshops to the association of radiation breeding producers. The outcomes of this project are expected to contribute to establishment of foundation of national germplasm management system and enlargement of social base for radiation-fused technologies