Report from the FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Section

Technology development is a pre-requisite for further success in practical applications of nuclear techniques in plant genetics and crop improvement. The Research Contract Programme of the IAEA is a good means to stimulate the needed technology development. Present FAO/IAEA Co-ordinated Research Programmes concentrate upon the incorporation of in-vitro culture techniques into mutation breeding projects: In cereals by doubled-haploids for accelerating mutation selection, in root and tuber crops by eliminating chimerism through somatic embryogenesis, in mutation breeding for disease resistance by attempting in-vitro selection using pathotoxins where applicable. The Plant Breeding Unit of the Agency's Seibersdorf Laboratory contributes particularly to the methodology of mutation induction by irradiation of plant material before or during in-vitro culture. Whether the FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Section should include already molecular genetics in its research and training programmes was the main question addressed to a Consultants' Meeting in November. The answer was definitely positive regarding the use of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, but deferred other more sophisticated work recognizing the limited resources. Another new subject matter seriously considered now is the development of tracer techniques for the diagnosis of viruses, viroids and similar causal agents of plant diseases, which eventually could lead to better ways of distinguishing between resistance and susceptibility, particularly in vegetatively propagated and perennial crops. The resources for such work still have to be found. If resources become available, we would also like to start a co-ordinated research programme on domestication of plants for industrial purposes. Project proposals are welcome. As far as assistance to Member States is concerned, in 1988 we began to pay more attention to plant breeding problems in Africa. There was interaction with oil seed breeders during an IDRC Workshop in Kenya, there was a regional seminar in Zambia, and there were missions of staff members to Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'lvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire. With financial support by the Italian Government, we expect to start in 1989 a regional co-operative programme including research contracts, training and workshops. Regional co-operation with plant breeders in Latin America continues under ARCAL (Regional Co-operative Arrangements for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America). The 7th Interregional Training Course on the Induction and Use of Mutations in Plant Breeding at the Seibersdorf Laboratory again saw 20 participants from 20 countries, selected among 61 applicants. The Section was responsible for 45 Technical Co-operation Projects involving 70 institutions in 37 countries. 52 scientists completed their training under IAEA fellowships