CRISPR/Cas9: an advanced platform for root and tuber crops improvement

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Genetics and Genomics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Root and tuber crops (RTCs) are vital global staple foods with underutilized industrial potential.
• Conventional breeding programs face challenges in fully exploiting RTCs for food, energy, and value addition.
• Genomic resources are now available for key RTCs, enabling advanced improvement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology on improving root and tuber crops.
• To discuss strategies, challenges, and future directions for CRISPR/Cas9 applications in RTCs.
• To identify key attributes and targets for future research in gene-edited tuber crops.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on CRISPR/Cas gene editing in RTCs.
• Analysis of genetic transformation and regeneration protocols for edited RTC lines.
• Identification of research bottlenecks and future research priorities.

Main Results:

• CRISPR/Cas technology has significantly advanced RTC improvement over the past decade.
• Effective strategies for genetic transformation and regeneration of edited RTCs have been developed.
• Key research areas and potential gene editing targets for RTCs have been identified.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR/Cas gene editing offers substantial scope for enhancing RTCs for diverse applications.
• Addressing bottlenecks in genetic transformation and regeneration is crucial for broader adoption.
• Future research should focus on specific RTC attributes and targeted gene editing approaches.