Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter, No. 32, January 2014

One major event this last half of 2013 was the success story of the IAEA interregional TC project INT/5/150 'Responding to the Transboundary Threat of Wheat Black Stem Rust (Ug99)'. Results have been achieved in record time; the project was started in 2009, and by mid 2013, two advanced mutant lines, resistant to the most virulent strains of wheat black stem rust (Ug99), successfully passed the national performance trials in Kenya and are ready for commercial release. A Regional Training Course was organized at IRRI (The Philippines) in the framework of regional TC project RAS/5/065 'Supporting Climate-Proofing Rice Production Systems (CRiPS) Based on Nuclear Applications'. By joining efforts, the IAEA, FAO and IRRI aim to ensure that rice scientists are acquainted with the most recent plant breeding and phenotyping approaches, allowing them to address future threats to food security stemming from climate change and other stress factors. The project also aims to act as a platform for future collaboration in rice production. This second half of the year was also the period of 'first timers'. For the first time, Lesotho is using mutation breeding techniques in potato, sweet potato and amaranth. A fellow is being introduced to these techniques at the Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory (PBGL) in Seibersdorf, Austria. Similarly we are supporting and nurturing the first steps of national mutation breeding programmes in Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Another cause for excitement is the ReNuAL project: the Seibersdorf Laboratories will be upgraded and renovated, including the FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories. This is a huge project with many logistical challenges, which are being met with vigour and personal investment in time and energy by our staff. Our guidance in this endeavour is 'fit-forpurpose to the Member States' in the future. IAEA Member States adopted a resolution to support this initiative, and we are now seeking financial and in-kind support. Please be reminded that these Laboratories are your laboratories, belonging to and serving the Member States. Initiation of mutation breeding in coffee: coffee is one of the world's largest export commodities and in terms of monetary value is only exceeded by crude oil. Statistical figures suggest that the income of 1 in 70 people in the world is directly or indirectly dependent upon coffee production (Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN). Coffee is a neglected crop in terms of plant mutation breeding, partly because no protocols for mutation induction in coffee are available. The CRIN is interested in developing mutation breeding of coffee to combat problems in the crop, such as biennial fruiting, low yield, high caffeine content and disease resistance, especially coffee leaf rust. This is a prime example of Member States driving our adaptive R and D. Recently Guatemala and Mexico joined with a request to combat coffee leaf rust using mutation techniques