Application of In Vitro Mutagenesis on Plant Tissue Culture for Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants

Biotechnological tools and approaches have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional breeding programs, particularly in genetic improvement of crops. Among these approaches, in vitro mutagenesis stands out as a pioneering technique in creating variation among existing breeding material as well as screening of superior mutants. This technique has wide applications in bolstering both crop yield and quality and increasing resistance to different abiotic and biotic stresses. The present chapter briefly describes the different physical and chemical mutagens that are predominantly employed in in-vitro random mutagenesis. Additionally, the we focused into the realm of genome editing tools, which have proven invaluable in tailoring precise and targeted mutations. An emphasis is placed on outlining the manifold applications of in vitro mutagenesis, including its role in instilling stress tolerance and effecting improvements in crop yield and quality.