果樹誘變與果樹育種

Abstract

果樹作物因育種上之特殊性、困難性，果樹誘變在果樹育種上備受矚目。果樹因樹體大，幼年期長，及世代交替不易，致傳統之果樹育種方法，很難在短期內育成經濟栽培品種。果樹誘變在縮短果樹育種年限上，有其特殊之效果。事實上，現有重要果樹中，有許多均源自於自然變異或實生選育，及人為誘變。人為誘變技術研究之不斷進行，尤其生物技術之發展，對期待人為突變體之育成，在果樹育種上將扮演重要的角色。本文將記述介紹果樹誘變與果樹育種之一體兩面，探討幾種果實際進行誘變育種之概況。 Breeders of fruit species are faced with certain unique problems not common in other agricultural crops. The long generation cycle and juvenile period makes it difficult to breed usful economic cultivars in a short time. As a result, mutation breeding has a special position in fruit tree breeding as it shortens the breeding duration. In fact, a great proportion of the existing cultivars were originated from natural or artificial mutations and selections. As the importance of artificial mutation breeding has been increasing with the fast development in molecular biology techniques, the article introduces the basic theories and practical examples in mutation breeding of fruit trees.