Plants are susceptible to phytopathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which cause colossal financial shortfalls (pre-and post-harvest) and threaten global food safety. To combat with these phytopathogens, plant possesses two-layer of defense in the form of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI), or Effectors-triggered immunity (ETI). The understanding of plant-molecular interactions and revolution of high-throughput molecular techniques have opened the door for innovations in developing pathogen-resistant plants. In this context, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) has transformed genome editing (GE) technology and being harnessed for altering the traits. Here we have summarized the complexities of plant immune system and the use of CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the various components of plant immune system to acquire long-lasting resistance in plants against phytopathogens. This review also sheds the light on the limitations of CRISPR-Cas9 system, regulation of CRISPR-Cas9 edited crops and future prospective of this technology.

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Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), utilizing natural resources, multiple cropping systems, and cow-dung- and urine-based products to improve soil biology, has been practiced by thousands of farmers in India. However, without any scientific proof, this traditional and ancient technique is mocked as a bugged theory in the scientific community. In the current study, we have investigated the effect of Jeevamrit—cow-dung- and urine-based formulation—on soil chemical and microbial properties of the ZBNF field coupled with metagenomic analysis and the economics of ZBNF. The percentage increase in soil properties, such as organic carbon, available phosphorus, and available potassium, was recorded up to 46%, 439%, and 142%, respectively, while micronutrients, such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn, also increased up to 98%, 23%, 62%, and 55%, respectively, from 2017 to 2019. Whole genome metagenomic analysis revealed that Proteobacteria were dominantly present, and bacterial phyla including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Panibacillus. On the other hand, Ascomycota was the dominating fungal phyla present in the soil sample. Further, functional analysis showed a high representation of genes/enzymes involved in amino acids and carbohydrate metabolism contributing to soil fertility, plant growth, defense, and development. Additionally, the cost–benefit ratio of ZBNF was double the farmer’s practice when tested with the rice and wheat cropping system. The results from this study provide a new proof of concept and understanding of the potential of the ZBNF component, i.e., Jeevamrit, in improving soil properties.

Field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2021-22 to evaluate the synergistic effect of organic manure and mycorrhizae on soil health and crop performance in winter maize (Zea mays L.) at Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya- 224229. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. The experiment consists of 8 treatments i.e. T1 (Control),T2 (100% RDF), T3 (80% RDF + 20% VC+ Mycorrhizae), T4 (80% RDF + 20% PM+ Mycorrhizae), T5 (60% RDF + 40% VC+ Mycorrhizae), T6 (60% RDF+ 40% PM+ Mycorrhizae), T7 (60% RDF+ 20% PM + 20 % VC+ Mycorrhizae), T8 (50% VC+ 50% PM+ Mycorrhizae). Results showed that growth and yields were substantially improved under Treatment T6 (60% RDF+ 40% N- PM+ Mycorrhizae) viz. plant height (cm), leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation (kg ha-1), cob length (cm), number of grain rows cob -1, number of grains cob-1, test weight (g), weight of cob (g), grain yield (q ha-1), stover yield (q ha-1) and  biological yield (q ha-1). Conclusively, synergistic incorporation of inorganic fertilizers with organic manure and mycorrhizae can be used with optimum rates to improve crop growth and productivity on sustainable basis.