Mutation: Principles, Mutagenesis and Applications in Crop Improvement provides a comprehensive academic treatment of mutation and its application in modern plant breeding. Beginning with the concepts, history, nature, classification and detection of mutations, the book explains how genetic variation can be generated and exploited for crop improvement. It covers physical mutagens, radiation biology, radiation-induced mutations, DNA damage and repair, dosimetry and radiation sensitivity, followed by an extensive treatment of chemical mutagens and chemical mutagenesis.

The book further discusses the evaluation of mutagen effects across M1, M2 and M3 generations, mutagenic efficiency and effectiveness, mutant spectra and mutation analysis. Particular emphasis is placed on mutation breeding applications, in-vitro mutagenesis, selection and validation of mutants, improvement of oligogenic and polygenic traits, and achievements and limitations of mutation breeding. The final sections connect conventional mutagenesis with modern genomics through allele mining and TILLING, demonstrating the continuing importance of induced mutations in precision-oriented crop improvement and functional genomics.

Chapter 1. Mutation: Concepts, History, Classification and Detection

Chapter 2. Physical Mutagens, Radiobiology and Radiation-Induced Mutations

Chapter 3. Chemical Mutagens and Chemical Mutagenesis

Chapter 4. Evaluation of Mutagen Effects and Mutation Analysis

Chapter 5. Mutation Breeding and Applications of Mutagen