Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple nutrient source for a significant portion of the world population, and therefore, enhancing its productivity as a major crop is vital in addressing growing global demand. Mutation breeding offers promise in inducing genetic variations from which certain agronomic traits of rice may be improved. This review presents a summary of research on historical and contemporary rice cultivation, including mutation breeding, and the challenges associated with mutagenesis itself, highlighting its feasibility in modern agriculture. This review also explores central aspects of mutagenesis in rice, including a thorough examination of the key traits improved in mutant rice varieties and the genes associated with these traits. The genetic and physiological outcomes of mutagenesis in rice, as reported in both laboratory and field-based reports indicate the success and limitations of this breeding technique. It has been revealed that mutagen breeding has positively contributed to developing more desirable rice varieties with improved traits such as stress tolerance and crop yield. Despite this, challenges such as the imprecision of induced mutation and the potential for subsequent off-target effects further contribute to overarching regulatory concerns that hinder the development of mutagen breeding in crops. Integrating and supplementing mutagenesis with modern genomic tools guide future research into sustainable and resilient rice cultivation practices. By consolidating current knowledge on mutation breeding in rice, we contribute this review as a resource for the design of targeted rice mutagenesis and to inform policymakers in the anticipated development of informed regulatory frameworks.