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The IAEA is pleased to announce the publication of two new tecdocs in the area of agriculture and food irradiation

Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment of Food and Agricultural Commodities
IAEA TECDOC Series No. 1427
This publication includes the results of a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on "Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment of Food and Agricultural Commodities". The results contain data on the effect of low doses of irradiation at different stages of development of almost 30 different species of insects and mite which represent major trade problems. It is important to note that some of the projects resulted in the first approvals against a non-fruit fly pest (sweetpotato weevil and mango seed weevil). The document also includes information about tolerance to irradiation of some commodities, packaging materials, methodologies used and the effect of a few combined treatments. This CRP includes also a number of "firsts" such as the first large-scale confirmatory tests for several non-fruit fly pests, the first commercial shipment of cut flowers using irradiation as part of a quarantine treatment, and extensive studies on the response of mites to irradiation.
IAEA-TECDOC-1427, 2004, ISBN 92-0-113804-0, English, 15 Euro

Genetic Improvement of Under-utilized and Neglected Crops in Low Income Food Deficit Countries Through Irradiation and Related Techniques
IAEA TECDOC Series No. 1426
This publication contains the results of an FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on "Genetic Improvement of Under-utilized and Neglected Crops in LIFDCs through Irradiation and Related techniques". It highlights the integration of radiation induced mutations in vitro culture and molecular genetics methods into the conventional breeding of neglected and under-utilized crops. The successful results included are: plant regeneration strategies in Dioscorea spp., grass pea and bambara ground nut, root rot disease tolerant putative mutants of cocoyam, and a genetic diversity bank of bamabara ground nut, quinoa, narajilla, okra, Amaranthus tricolor, and A. cruentus. This publication would be of immense benefit for enhancing the genetic improvement of neglected and under-utilized crops and for further advancing international programmes for improving food security, nutrition, socio-economic aspects, employment generation and sustainable food production.
IAEA-TECDOC-1426, 2004, ISBN 92-0-113604-8, English, 15 Euro

For additional information, or to order the books *, please contact:
sales.publications@iaea.org fax: +43 1 2600 29302 / tel.: +43 1 2600 22529 / http://www.iaea.org/books