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Agronomy
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Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop...
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Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties

A Special Issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395) belonging to the section "Crop Breeding and Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 4298

Editors

Prof. Dr. Nasya Tomlekova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agricultural Academy, Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, 4003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: molecular biology; mutation breeding; genetic diversity; plant crops
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Henryk Czembor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute—National Research Institute, Radzików, 05-870 Błonie, Poland
Interests: cereal, biodiversity; climate change; plant genetic resources; crop protection; ecology; sustainable agriculture; gene bank; genetics; plant breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue explores the role of induced mutations in advancing crop breeding and genetic improvement. Mutation breeding, which began in the 1930s with breakthroughs by Hermann Muller and Lewis Stadler, led to the development of crops with higher yields, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. By the 1960s, organizations like FAO and IAEA promoted nuclear techniques, resulting in notable crops like Sharbati Sonora wheat. Advances in molecular genetics, such as DNA markers and marker-assisted selection (MAS), further improved mutation breeding in the late 20th century.

This Issue highlights recent advancements and challenges in mutation breeding, focusing on mutant-based innovations for agriculture. It addresses critical topics like sustainability, food security, and climate change, integrating traditional and modern approaches. Key topics include classical mutagenesis, CRISPR editing, MAS, genomic selection, and bioinformatics.

The Issue showcases innovations like CRISPR-Cas9 for precise genetic modifications, enabling stress-resilient, high-yield crops. With over 3200 mutant varieties released, technologies such as precision mutagenesis and biofortified crops enhance agriculture.

We seek papers on molecular mechanisms, DNA markers, stress-resistant crops, historical reviews, and ethical considerations, encouraging submissions from fields like genetics, biotechnology, and plant breeding.

Prof. Dr. Nasya Tomlekova
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Henryk Czembor
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mutagenesis
  • MAS
  • plant genetic resources
  • CRISPR editing
  • plant breeding
  • genomic selection
  • bioinformatics
  • cutting-edge research

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1936 KB  
Article
First Induced Mutant Population for Drought Tolerance in Vicia faba L.: Yield Traits and Stress Indices Across Generations and Water Regimes
by Oumaima Chetto, Loubna Belqadi, Ahmed Douaik, Etienne Bucher, Sarah Ouardy, Khalid Azim, Mohamed El Fechtali, Chaimae El Khnissi, Keny Karl Mounguele and Abdelghani Nabloussi
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111064 - 28 May 2026
Viewed by 595
Abstract
Drought is a critical constraint for legume production in semi-arid regions, yet breeding for drought tolerance in faba bean through induced mutagenesis remains largely unexplored. To our knowledge, this is the first EMS-derived mutant population in faba bean specifically developed for drought tolerance, [...] Read more.
Drought is a critical constraint for legume production in semi-arid regions, yet breeding for drought tolerance in faba bean through induced mutagenesis remains largely unexplored. To our knowledge, this is the first EMS-derived mutant population in faba bean specifically developed for drought tolerance, comprising 45 M2/M3 lines derived from small-seeded cv. Zina and large-seeded cv. Aguadulce Superlonga), evaluated under two irrigation regimes—100% field capacity (well-watered control) and 40% field capacity (severe stress)—over two consecutive growing seasons in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Drought stress caused severe yield losses, reducing mean seed number per plant by 42.2% and mean seed weight per plant by 47.1%. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant effects of genotype, irrigation, and generation/year on both yield components. The non-significant genotype × irrigation interaction indicated similar proportional drought response across genotypes, while the non-significant three-way interaction suggested relatively consistent genotype rankings across generations/growing seasons. Among the ten drought tolerance indices evaluated, seed-number-based mean productivity (MPn) and stress tolerance index (STIn) were the most discriminating, whereas weight-based indices failed to differentiate genotypes due to the inherent seed-size contrast between botanical backgrounds. Dunnett’s comparisons identified genotype 23 (Zina-derived) as the top performer, significantly exceeding its parent for both MPn and STIn; genotypes 22, 24, 12, 3, and 15 similarly outperformed controls. Cluster analysis broadly distinguished three groups: a tolerant cluster dominated by Zina-derived lines, a moderately tolerant cluster (Zina wild-type), and a sensitive cluster of Aguadulce Superlonga-derived lines. These findings suggest that EMS mutagenesis generated potentially heritable and exploitable variation for drought tolerance, with selected lines representing promising candidates for further multi-environment validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties)
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24 pages, 2989 KB  
Article
Sensory Profiling of Advanced Bulgarian Mutant Potato Lines After Steaming and Oven-Frying
by Dida Iserliyska, Emiliya Nacheva and Nasya Tomlekova
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080826 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Potato sensory quality is a key determinant of consumer acceptance and processing suitability; however, it remains insufficiently explored in Bulgarian potato breeding programs. This study aimed to characterize the sensory profiles of advanced Bulgarian mutant potato lines developed through induced mutagenesis, in comparison [...] Read more.
Potato sensory quality is a key determinant of consumer acceptance and processing suitability; however, it remains insufficiently explored in Bulgarian potato breeding programs. This study aimed to characterize the sensory profiles of advanced Bulgarian mutant potato lines developed through induced mutagenesis, in comparison with their parental genotypes and untreated controls, after steaming and oven-frying. A trained descriptive sensory panel evaluated attributes related to appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, taste, and aftertaste, and the resulting data were explored using principal component analysis (PCA). Steamed samples were mainly associated with potato identity, earthy and raw potato peel aromatics, and potato-like flavor, whereas oven-fried samples were more strongly associated with overall sweet impression, buttery, earthy, and potato flavors, together with nutty aftertaste. Texture-related attributes were expressed in both culinary preparations, while undesirable bitter, sour, and astringent aftertastes occurred less frequently and were mainly linked to specific genotypes rather than to the overall sensory profile. Exploratory PCA supported the visualization of genotype-related sensory tendencies across both datasets. Several mutant lines showed favorable sensory profiles aligned with desirable parental characteristics, whereas others were more often associated with less favorable attributes, including increased bitter and astringent aftertastes. Overall, steaming emphasized inherent potato like, earthy, and raw-related notes, whereas oven-frying enhanced color development, sweet–buttery flavor impressions, and richer texture expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties)
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16 pages, 1354 KB  
Article
Omics Profiles of the Null Segregants of RNA-Directed DNA Methylation-Positive Tobacco Plants
by Haruka Morimoto, Yukiko Umeyama, Sayaka Hirai, Takumi Nishiuchi, Takumi Ogawa, Tomofumi Mochizuki, Daisaku Ohta, Hiroaki Kodama and Taira Miyahara
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020277 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 930
Abstract
RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM), a new plant breeding technology, induces epigenetic modifications that can be inherited even after segregation of the responsible transgene. The transgene-free descendants (null segregants) are potentially exempt from the regulation of genetically modified plants. To evaluate the risks of [...] Read more.
RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM), a new plant breeding technology, induces epigenetic modifications that can be inherited even after segregation of the responsible transgene. The transgene-free descendants (null segregants) are potentially exempt from the regulation of genetically modified plants. To evaluate the risks of potential unintended molecular changes in the null segregants of RdDM-positive plants, we produced null segregants (S44end2-null) from a transgenic tobacco line in which RdDM targeting the promoter of the transgene was introduced. Comprehensive multi-omics analyses, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, were conducted using S44end2-null and wild-type (WT) plants. Principal component analysis demonstrated clear separation of the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of the two groups. The metabolomic profiles of S44end2-null plants exhibited considerable overlap with those of WT plants. Proteomic analysis of the null segregants of tobacco plants transformed with an empty vector demonstrated distinct cluster separation from WT plants. Because only sporadic DNA methylation on the tobacco genome was expected by the RdDM construct used in this study, the observed differences in omics profiles are considered to be significantly influenced by genetic variation accumulated during the transformation and regeneration processes (somaclonal variation). The safety assessment points for null segregants using RdDM technology are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties)
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13 pages, 855 KB  
Article
Putative Second-Site Mutations in the Barley Low Phytic Acid 1-1 (lpa 1-1) Genetic Background Further Reduce Seed Total Phosphorus
by Beverly L. Agesa, Victor Raboy, Paul J. A. Withers and Katherine A. Steele
Agronomy 2025, 15(7), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071550 - 25 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1114
Abstract
Inefficient crop phosphorus (P) use impacts global food security and P fertilizer use can be environmentally harmful. Lines homozygous for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa 1-1) have yields equivalent to the wild type but ~15% less [...] Read more.
Inefficient crop phosphorus (P) use impacts global food security and P fertilizer use can be environmentally harmful. Lines homozygous for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa 1-1) have yields equivalent to the wild type but ~15% less seed Total P (TP). The objective here was to identify second-site mutations in the lpa1-1 background that condition a further reduction in seed TP, again with little impact on yield. A chemically mutagenized population was derived from lpa 1-1 and screened to identify lines with seed TP reductions greater than 15% (as compared with wild-type) but with seed weights per plant within 80% of wild-type. Three M4 lines were selected and evaluated in a greenhouse pot experiment. Plants were grown to maturity either on a soil with low soil P fertility (16 to 25 mg Olsen P L−1; Soil P Index 1) or with that soil supplemented (36 kg P ha−1) to provide optimal available soil P. Mean seed P reduction across the three lines and two soil P levels was 28%, a near doubling of the lpa1-1 seed Total P reduction. When grown with optimal soil available P, no impact of these putative mutations on grain yield was observed. These findings suggest that the three lpa 1-1-derived mutant lines carry second-site mutations conferring substantially (~17%) greater decreases in seed TP than that conferred by lpa 1-1. If the putative mutations are confirmed to be heritable and to have negligible impact on yield, they could be used in breeding P-efficient barley cultivars as a step towards reducing regional and global P demand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breakthrough and Innovation of Mutants in Genetic Improvement of Crop Varieties)
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