Plant breeding advancements with “CRISPR-Cas” genome editing technologies will assist future food security

Abstract

Genome editing techniques are being used to modify plant breeding, which might increase food production sustainably by 2050. A product made feasible by genome editing is becoming better known, because of looser regulation and widespread acceptance. The world’s population and food supply would never have increased proportionally under current farming practices. The development of plants and food production has been greatly impacted by global warming and climate change. Therefore, minimizing these effects is crucial for agricultural production that is sustainable. Crops are becoming more resilient to abiotic stress because of sophisticated agricultural practices and a better understanding of the abiotic stress response mechanism. Both conventional and molecular breeding techniques have been used to create viable crop types both processes are time-consuming. Recently, plant breeders have shown an interest in genome editing approaches for genetic manipulation that use clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9). To ensure the security of the food supply in the future, plant kinds with desired traits must be developed. A completely new era in plant breeding has begun because of the revolution in genome editing techniques based on the CRISPR/CRISPR-associated nuclease (Cas9) systems. All plants may effectively target a particular gene or group of loci using Cas9 and single-guide RNA (sgRNA). CRISPR/Cas9 can thereby save time and labor compared to conventional breeding methods. An easy, quick, and efficient method for directly altering the genetic sequences in cells is with the CRISPR and Cas9 systems. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, which was developed from components of the earliest known bacterial immune system, allows for targeted gene breakage and gene editing in a variety of cells/RNA sequences to guide endonuclease cleavage specificity in the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Editing can be directed to practically any genomic site by altering the guide RNA (gRNA) sequence and delivering it to a target cell along with the Cas9 endonuclease. We summarize recent CRISPR/Cas9 plant research findings, investigate potential applications in plant breeding, and make predictions about likely future breakthroughs and approaches to food security through 2050.

The challenge of breeding for reduced off-flavor in faba bean ingredients

“…Many candidate genes involved in the production of volatile and non-volatile compounds have been proposed in this review. Their functional role in the development of off-flavor in faba bean could be validated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, which is revolutionising the research in plant breeding ( Ahmad, 2023 ). CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing employs the Cas9 endonuclease to make precise cuts in DNA.…”

Establishment of an Efficient Sugarcane Transformation System via Herbicide-Resistant CP4-EPSPS Gene Selection

“…Advances in plant-breeding-based technologies have contributed significantly to sugarcane improvement in recent decades [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. For instance, sugarcane breeders interested in increasing herbicide resistance crossed Saccharum officinarum (2n = 8x = 80; x = 10) with a wild and vigorous relative, S. spontaneum (2n = 5 − 16x = 40 − 128; x = 8), and then backcrossed the hybrids with S. officinarum .…”

Editorial: Current advances in genomics and gene editing tools for crop improvement in a changing climate scenario

“…A plethora of novel avenues opened by genomics and genome editing approaches are attributed to the evolution of valuable tools like next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, state-of-the-art genotyping arrays, genome mapping and genomic selection technologies that have helped to expedite the crop breeding processes. Likewise, new gene editing platforms have allowed precise editing of agronomically important genes to generate new varieties with desired characteristics ( Zhang 2020 ; Ahmad 2023 ).…”

“…The deployment of these technologies has laid down the foundation of modern breeding for effectively channelizing the underutilized diversity hidden in the crop wild relatives into elite gene pools ( Sehgal et al, 2015 ; 2017 ; 2020 ; Singh et al, 2018 ; Singh et al, 2021 ). The advanced breeding programs are assisted by cutting-edge genomics, sequencing and genome editing technologies and have integrated artificial intelligence, machine learning bioinformatics and other related disciplines to meet the global food demands ( Huang et al, 2022 ; Robert et al, 2022 ; Ahmad 2023 ).…”