28 August 2015: Researchers from Afghanistan, Mauritius and Pakistan are developing new plant breeds that can withstand harsh climatic conditions such as erratic rains, droughts, disease and relentless heat, and help keep their countries’ crops growing strong in the face of climate change.

The three researchers, Mehboob-ur Rahman from Pakistan, Saraye Banumaty from Mauritius and Sekander Hussaini from Afghanistan are using their training received through the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN / International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture to develop new plant breeds that can withstand adverse climatic conditions.

During his training, Rahman learned how to create new plant varieties using mutation breeding and is now working with a team at the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, through an IAEA technical cooperation project, to develop new cotton and wheat plant varieties that are resistant to environmental stresses and diseases.

Banumaty is focusing on a mutation breeding programme for tomatoes that aims to address climate change-related heat problems by breeding a heat-tolerant tomato line. The variety is expected to be released for distribution by late 2016 and is expected to improve local tomato production especially during summer months.

Finally, Hussaini, who learned how to use nuclear techniques for plant mutation breeding during his training, has since developed new wheat seed varieties, many of which have already been successfully used by farmers in several provinces of Afghanistan. [IAEA News Release]