[en] Mutation induction has become an established tool in plant breeding to supplement existing germplasm and to improve cultivars in certain specific traits. Hundreds of improved varieties have been released to farmers for many different crop species, demonstrating the economic value of the technology. Limitations arise mainly from the large size of the mutagenized populations to be screened and from the unsatisfactory selection methods. Both limitations may be eased to some extent by advances in techniques of plant in vitro culture. (author). 228 refs. 1 fig. 7 tabs