Genetic mutations in plants pre-date human influences and involvement. Throughout evolution, spontaneous mutations contributed to natural selection, enabling plants to better adapt to their environment. As humans became more sedentary (farmer-herders), they assisted in the domestication of crops by favoring specific characteristics (spontaneous mutations) within plant species over time. Since spontaneous mutation rates were low, plant breeders developed procedures to induce mutations via physical (primarily ionizing radiation) and chemical treatments; although first proven in 1928, it took approximately three decades to become more widely adopted with an emphasis placed on massive phenotypic screening efforts. Unfortunately, many hidden mutations were also present in the selected mutant lines. Starting in 1983, researchers confirmed more precise genetic changes could be made through gene introduction. Three decades later, these techniques were used in the present field of genome editing once the prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas system was modified by researchers for use in eukaryotes. This made it possible to generate precise mutations in plant genomes thereby increasing specificity and reducing unwanted/hidden mutations. Regardless of how mutations are generated, they will continue to facilitate adaptation to human-focused goals and the ever-changing environment.

植物中的基因突变早于人类的影响和参与。在整个进化过程中，自发突变有助于自然选择，使植物能够更好地适应环境。随着人类久坐不动（农牧民），他们逐渐偏爱植物物种内的特定特征（自发突变），从而帮助农作物驯化。由于自发突变率低，植物育种者开发了通过物理（主要是电离辐射）和化学处理诱导突变的程序。尽管最初于1928年得到证明，但大约需要三十年的时间才被更广泛地采用，重点放在大规模的表型筛选工作上。不幸的是，在选择的突变株系中也存在许多隐藏的突变。从1983年开始，研究人员证实，通过基因导入可以进行更精确的遗传改变。三十年后，一旦研究人员对原核CRISPR / Cas系统进行了修饰，以用于真核生物，这些技术便被用于当前的基因组编辑领域。这使得在植物基因组中产生精确的突变成为可能，从而提高了特异性并减少了不希望的/隐藏的突变。无论如何产生突变，它们都将继续促进适应以人为本的目标和不断变化的环境。这使得在植物基因组中产生精确的突变成为可能，从而提高了特异性并减少了不希望的/隐藏的突变。无论如何产生突变，它们都将继续促进适应以人为本的目标和不断变化的环境。这使得在植物基因组中产生精确的突变成为可能，从而提高了特异性并减少了不希望的/隐藏的突变。无论如何产生突变，它们都将继续促进适应以人为本的目标和不断变化的环境。