Ion Beam Breeding of Rice for the Mutation Breeding Project of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA)　

Ion beams have been utilized for the Mutation Breeding Project of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) since 2009. From fiscal year 2013, a new project ‘Mutation Breeding of Rice for Sustainable Agriculture’ for five years has been launched. This new project will contribute to the increase of food production and improvement of food quality in Asian countries by establishing mutant varieties such as high yielding varieties under low input conditions, new varieties tolerant to diseases, droughts, and other climate changes, according to participating country’s demands by using gamma rays or ion beams. In Bangladesh, BINA dhan-14, showing early maturing and high yielding, got official approval for releasing. BINA dhan-14 was cultivated for farmer with the help of agriculture extension in the different area of Bangladesh. In Vietnam, CMBT (carrying salt tolerant gene) and BLBT (carrying bacterial leaf blight disease tolerant genes) seeds were treated with carbon ion radiation and were planted and selected at the Agricultural Genetics Institute up to fourth mutant generation (M4). Fourteen M4 promising mutant lines derived from 60 Gy-irradation were selected. In Malaysia, 31 potential mutant lines were produced through mutagenesis of MR219 seeds with carbon ion irradiation