The Joint FAO/IAEA Division has a strong interest in the development of combined in vitro culture and induced mutation techniques. Recent developments in biotechnology, especially in plant cell/tissue culture techniques, have reached the stage of practical application in various fields. Through the help of IAEA technical co-operation projects, in vitro culture laboratories to be used for mutation breeding have been established in many developing countries. These techniques are effective in vegetatively propagated crop species and are highly useful in screening methodology for all types of crops. To meet the needs of Member States, the Co-ordinated Research Programme (CRP) on the Use of Induced Mutations and In Vitro Culture Techniques for Improving Crop Plant Resistance to Diseases was initiated in 1987. The CRP was successfully completed in 1991. The results included the development of in vitro cultures and screening methodology using pathotoxins. During these years, biotechnology continued its rapid progress, especially in molecular research. DNA based marker and gene transfer techniques have become very promising methods but more know-how is needed if they are to be used in practical breeding. The Joint FAO/IAEA Division is also making efforts in these fields to examine the feasibility and the way of transferring technologies to developing countries. The CRP focused on : (1) Development of in vitro techniques to screen mutated cells, tissue organs, or plantlets for resistance to diseases (including fungi, bacteria and virus as pathogens) and to certain environmental stresses, such as salinity, drought and temperature. (2) Evaluation of the usefulness of these techniques for plant breeding. (3) Utilization of promising mutants in breeding improved cultivars. The duration of this CRP was too short to obtain feed back on research results, such as the use of refined pathotoxin for mass screening in in vitro cultures. However, results reported in these proceedings indicate that the methodology is promising in many fields of applications, although further fundamental studies are necessary to obtain knowledge on infection mechanisms and the physiological action of pathotoxins. We believe that the papers presented will be useful for plant breeders dealing with plant resistance to diseases.

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