Research and Application of Mutagenic Effects in Plants Irradiated by Heavy Ion Beams

Key words: 
• heavy ion /
• mutagenic effect /
• plant breeding

Abstract: Heavy ion biotechnology has received much attention since the mid1980s, when the first mutagenic effect of heavy ion beams was found in rice. Since then, plant breeding is one of the focuses in heavy ion biotechnology. In this paper we outlined the recent developments in plant breeding by heavy ion beams. We introduced briefly the essential characteristics and superiority of heavy ion beams applied in plant breeding, and reviewed further the mutagenic research in three levels(e.g., molecular, cell and individual) of plants. At last, we summarized artificial mutants obtained in plants irradiated by heavy ion beams.