Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter, No. 46, January 2021

PBG provided technical support for the development and release of 25 mutant varieties during the year, most of these in the Asia Pacific Region. An informal virtual meeting of the Mutation Breeding Network of the Asia Pacific Region was held in Nov 2020 where PBG led discussions with participant Member States on (a) the development of improved mutant lines, populations and new mutant varieties; b) the use and implications of heavy ion beam for DNA modification and faster development of new varieties; and (c) the use of genomics technologies to understand the molecular variants underlying mutations. The meeting was attended, and technical presentations made, by representatives of 14 of the current 16 participant Member States. PBG received approval for a new CRP on 'Development of Integrated Techniques for Induced Genetic Diversity and Improvement of Vegetatively Propagated and Horticultural Tree Crops (D24014)'. The CRP aims to develop new genetic resources and technologies for accelerated breeding in cassava, other roots and tubers, and olive through induced genetic diversity, chimera-free regeneration and functional genomics. The CRP was the result of discussions during a virtual Consultation Meeting and subsequent feedback received during the presentation of the concept note for approval. Call for proposals for the CRP is currently open, with the expectation of having contracts signed by April 2021, and the first Research Coordination Meeting to be held soon thereafter. R&D activities implemented by contract holders in the five ongoing CRPs have been on track in most instances, although in a few cases, delays imposed by the pandemic were experienced. First-year activities of a two-year, singlecontract CRP on impact assessment of mutant rice varieties released by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture were completed successfully. Research Coordination Meetings of two CRPs have been postponed to 2021. PBG provided technical support to the implementation of 47 Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs), of which 35 began in 2020, and to the design of 35 new TCPs planned for the 2022–23 cycle. Emphasis was placed on procurement during this pandemic year, while two planned group training courses at the PBG Laboratory (PBGL) have been postponed to 2021. Similarly, most capacity building activities of ongoing TCPs have been delayed, including regional training courses, fellowships and scientific visits. The PBGL adapted a protocol for the verification and screening for resistance to the disease, Fusarium Wilt TR4 in Cavendish banana, which enables the screening of mutant populations and verification of putative mutants of banana with resistance to TR4. The disease has been devastating banana plantations in Asia, and its appearance in Africa was reported in 2013 and in Latin America in 2019. The protocol was optimized using a TR4 susceptible Cavendish banana under contained, environmentally controlled conditions, and will now be applied to known TR4 resistant cultivars and for verification purposes. Further, a new pilot project was initiated under the Functional Genomics for Trait Utilisation initiative for the targeted selection of mutations in specific genes in sorghum. A first batch of 6 000 M₁ seed was irradiated, planted and M₂ seed is now harvested. Also, to address the need for user-friendly bioinformatics tools to analyse large volumes of DNA sequence data, a software workflow has been developed to simplify the handling and primary analysis of Illumina sequence data, including streamlined quality control and identification of DNA sequence variants from whole genome sequence data. Finally, the PBGL has recently acquired and operationalized a robotics station for automated molecular biology protocols to support genomics research. Additional equipment investments were also made in specialized polymerase chain reaction technologies for higher throughput marker-assisted breeding and for targeted, genotypic selection of mutations in large-scale mutation breeding programmes. Most importantly, I want to announce the call for nominations for Outstanding Achievement Awards, Women in Plant Mutation Breeding Awards, and Young Scientist Awards, in the science, application and impact of induced genetic variation and plant mutation breeding. The Awards will take the form of a certificate and will be officially announced during the 65th regular session of the IAEA General Conference, which will be held at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, from 20 to 24 September 2021.