%A"NONE" %D2001 %I; Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna (Austria) %2 %J[] %K60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES, BIOLOGICAL MARKERS, COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS, CROPS, DNA, GENE MUTATIONS, GENETIC VARIABILITY, LEADING ABSTRACT, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, PLANT BREEDING, PRODUCTIVITY, TRACER TECHNIQUES, MEETINGS %PMedium: ED; Size: 84 pages %TRadioactively labelled DNA probes for crop improvement. Proceedings of a final research co-ordination meeting %XWith the advent of DNA molecular marker technology in the 1980s plant breeding had a new and powerful tool with which to increase its efficacy. Such markers are abundant and directly reveal information about the genotype and therefore are more useful than simple phenotypic markers. In plant breeding applications, molecular markers reveal information about variability and genetic relationships, and enable genetic mapping, which greatly assists the breeder in selection of parents and progeny, as well as in management of breeding strategies. Furthermore, molecular markers linked to phenotypic traits permit very early selection of superior progenies from breeding populations, therefore significantly reducing the need for field testing and greatly increasing efficiency of plant breeding programmes. For this to occur the oligonucleotide probes for labelling genetic markers and/or the primers for polymerase chain reactions to amplify genetic markers needed to be also accessible to scientists in developing Member States. In addition, technical information, training and troubleshooting were needed to support the utilization of DNA markers. In the early 1990s there was a dramatic increase in requests for access to this technology. This co-ordinated research project (CRP) facilitated the transfer of molecular marker technology, in terms of both material and information, from advanced laboratories to assist breeding programmes in developing countries. Two other CRPs were conducted concurrently in order to assist developing Member States to utilise molecular markers - Application of DNA Based Marker Mutations for Improvement of Cereals and other Sexually Reproduced Crop Plants, and Use of Novel DNA Fingerprinting Techniques for the Detection and Characterisation of Genetic Variation in Vegetatively Propagated Crops (IAEA-TECDOC-1010 and IAEA-TECDOC-1047, respectively). The present CRP built upon the success of the former projects by ensuring the availability of probes/primers, many of them radioactively labelled, and the distribution of associated technical information for use in projects utilising molecular markers to improve local crop plant varieties in their resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, better yields, improved agronomic traits and enhanced harvested product quality. The CRP successfully facilitated the distribution of DNA probes and primers, the establishment of an ordering and enquiry system for participants to source probes and primers including Web-based procurement services, and the distribution of protocols and related information in response to requests from participants. The project also encouraged the development and dissemination of background knowledge and data relating to the markers and their application. Networks between scientists in developed countries and those in developing countries were fostered and interactive forums for learning and troubleshooting were promoted. The present publication summarizes the achievements of this CRP obtained through joint effort of all participants to facilitate application of molecular marker technology in plant breeding programmes in developing countries. %0Technical Report %NIAEA-TECDOC-1253;Other: ISSN 1011-4289; TRN: XA0103647062155 %1 %CIAEA %Rhttps://doi.org/ Other: ISSN 1011-4289; TRN: XA0103647062155 INIS %GEnglish