Conclusion The Gamma Phytotron was established in Korea in 2005 and the Gamma Greenhouse, approximately doubled the size of the Gamma Greenhouse located at the IRB, Japan, was established in Malaysia in 2008. Both facilities are focused on the induction of mutation by chronic Gammaray irradiation to growing plants of important crop species. As described earlier in this report, chronic irradiation is a useful tool for the generation of mutant genome resources that have application toward molecular analysis as well as conventional breeding.
Conclusions A. M. van Harten [39] describes in “Mutation Breeding -Theory and practical application,” “An explanation for the decreasing interest in mutation breeding, at least in most “developed” countries, may be that during the past two decades attention has become more and more directed towards studying the possibilities offered to plant breeding by various new molecular technologies…As a result of these developments mutation breeding seems to have lost part of its previous attraction for young researchers.” It is not necessary to mention, however, that mutation breeding is still a very interesting and useful technology for isolating genes and for elucidating gene mechanisms and metabolic pathways in various crops. The record has also shown that mutation induction is a very useful conventional breeding tool for developing superior cultivars. Today, sitedirected mutagenesis in vivo or in vitro cell can be envisioned and many researchers are conducting programmes in this direction. New fields of science and technologies were developed on the basis of achievements of traditional or classic methods. It is highly desirable that
the IRB continues their work while incorporating the new knowledge and technologies. The IRB is well equipped with appropriate facilities and equipment that will contribute to the future mutation breeding developments and be a contributor in solving the problems mentioned in this review.