Vol. 9, Issue 8, Part N (2025)

Mutation breeding is an essential strategy for improving the nutritional quality of fruit crops by inducing heritable genetic variation that affects key biochemical and molecular pathways. This review reviews evidence from studies conducted over the past two decades, highlighting how induced mutagenesis, combined with advanced molecular tools, has contributed to enhanced levels of vitamin C, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. A systematic analysis of 52 studies demonstrated that phenolics and flavonoids were most frequently improved, followed by vitamin C and carotenoids, with EMS and ion beams identified as the most effective mutagens for nutritional enhancement. Median effect sizes indicated consistent percentage gains in antioxidant-related traits without significant trade-offs in yield or shelf-life, demonstrating compatibility of nutritional improvement with commercial cultivation. Molecular insights revealed that favorable mutations often influenced genes in the phenylpropanoid, ascorbate, and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways, validating the hypothesis that induced mutagenesis can be strategically employed to reconfigure plant metabolic networks. The review further demonstrated that while occasional off-types or reductions in fruit size were reported, these effects could be minimized through careful dose optimization and molecular marker-assisted selection. Overall, the study positions mutation breeding as a dual-purpose tool for ensuring food and nutritional security, with strong potential to deliver nutritionally superior cultivars that contribute to healthier diets and global well-being. Practical recommendations include integrating biochemical screening into breeding pipelines, developing mutation-derived germplasm repositories, and supporting farmer adoption through targeted policies and extension services. By embedding nutritional quality as a core breeding objective, mutation breeding can effectively complement conventional and genomic approaches, ensuring that advances in plant science directly benefit consumers in the face of global nutritional challenges.