Breeding rice for yield improvement through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing method: current technologies and examples.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Genetics

Background:

• Climate change poses a significant threat to rice productivity in Asia, leading to frequent crop failures.
• Abiotic and biotic stresses exacerbated by climate change impact global food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools and their application in improving rice yield and stress adaptation.
• To highlight the potential of genome editing in addressing climate change-induced challenges in rice cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Discussed various CRISPR-Cas9 tools: gene knockout, knock-in, multiplexing, base editing, and prime editing.
• Reviewed applications of genome editing for directly targeting yield-related genes and indirectly manipulating stress-responsive genes in rice.

Main Results:

• CRISPR-Cas9 enables precise genetic modifications in rice without foreign DNA insertion.
• Genome editing strategies have been successfully employed to enhance rice yield and resilience to environmental stresses.

Conclusions:

• Genome-edited rice with improved traits is expected to be publicly accepted as non-GMO, addressing food security challenges.
• CRISPR-Cas9 technology presents a viable pathway for developing climate-resilient rice varieties to mitigate global food crises.