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Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology. Edited by Q. Y. Shu, B. P. Forster and H. Nakagawa. Wallingford, UK: CABI (2012), pp. 608, £125.00. ISBN 978-178064-085-3.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2013

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Abstract

Type
Book Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology is the successor to the Mutation Breeding Manual published by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1975, with a second edition in 1977. This new book is published jointly by CAB International and FAO. The three editors have done an excellent job in bringing together 41 chapters, arranged in five sections: I. Concepts, Historical Development and Genetic Basis; II. Mutagens and Induced Mutagenesis; III. Mutation Induction and Mutant Development; IV. Mutation Breeding and V. Mutations in Functional Genomics. Each chapter is clearly written by an authority or authorities on the subject with good cross referencing to other relevant chapters. Furthermore, the text of each chapter is complemented by very useful tables, boxes, figures and photographs, in colour where this adds clarity. The references at the end of each chapter include cited references, websites and further reading. The book ends with three appendices on radio-sensitivity of various plant species to fast neutrons; radio-sensitivity of plants to chronic irradiation and suggested dose for mutation induction; and the radio-sensitivity of plants to acute gamma irradiation estimated by LD50 and RD50 and the suggested dose (SD) for practical application. The book is a very welcome, comprehensive and much needed synthesis of the literature on the modern role of induced mutagenesis in plant breeding and functional genomics. There is an excellent balance between theory and practice, and between model plants and important crops. The book should prove valuable to practical plant breeders and to researchers in basic and applied plant biology.