From laboratory to classroom: Academic discourse on recent achievements in mutation breeding of fruits

Fruit crops are vital for human nutrition and global agricultural economies, yet their improvement through conventional breeding is often constrained by long juvenile phases, heterozygosity, and complex inheritance patterns. Mutation breeding has emerged as a powerful complementary strategy to generate novel genetic variability and accelerate trait improvement in perennial fruit species. This study evaluated the effects of physical (gamma irradiation, X-rays) and chemical mutagens (ethyl methanesulfonate, sodium azide) on five representative fruit crops: banana (Musa spp.), guava (Psidium guajava), grape (Vitis vinifera), citrus (Citrus spp.), and apple (Malus domestica). Results revealed a clear dose-response relationship, with survival declining under higher mutagen levels while mutation frequencies increased significantly. Moderate doses of gamma irradiation (20-40 Gy) and EMS (0.2-0.5%) were most effective in balancing mutagenic efficiency with plant survival. Yield analysis showed improvements of 8-18% in top-performing mutants compared with controls, with statistically significant treatment effects confirmed through ANOVA and permutation testing. Quality assessments demonstrated consistent increases in soluble solids (°Brix), vitamin C content, and phenolic compounds, indicating that induced mutagenesis can simultaneously enhance agronomic performance and nutritional quality. Molecular characterization using SSR markers confirmed polymorphism among selected mutants, validating the genetic basis of phenotypic improvements. These findings support the integration of mutation breeding into mainstream fruit improvement programs, with practical implications for crop productivity, nutritional security, and resilience to climatic stress. Furthermore, the results highlight the need for incorporating laboratory-based mutation breeding practices into agricultural curricula, fostering the training of future scientists in advanced breeding strategies. The combined application of classical mutagenesis, molecular tools, and pedagogical integration positions mutation breeding as both a scientific and educational cornerstone for sustainable fruit crop improvement.