Turbo-charging crop improvement: harnessing multiplex editing for polygenic trait engineering and beyond.

Area of Science:

• Plant genomics
• Genome engineering
• Molecular biology

Background:

• Multiplex CRISPR editing allows simultaneous targeting of multiple genomic sites in plants.
• It is crucial for dissecting gene functions, engineering complex traits, and crop domestication.
• Applications span gene knockouts, epigenetic modifications, and transgene-free editing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advancements and applications of multiplex CRISPR editing in plant genome engineering.
• To discuss technical challenges and innovations in multiplex editing tools and workflows.
• To highlight the future potential of multiplex editing for crop improvement and agricultural sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Review of current multiplex CRISPR toolkits and vector architectures.
• Discussion of high-throughput sequencing technologies for mutation detection.
• Analysis of computational workflows for gRNA design and construct assembly.

Main Results:

• Multiplex editing facilitates gene family analysis, polygenic trait engineering, and de novo domestication.
• Innovations in vector design enhance editing efficiency and streamline workflows.
• Long-read sequencing improves detection of complex structural rearrangements.
• Demand for user-friendly computational tools and inducible promoters is increasing.

Conclusions:

• Multiplex CRISPR editing is a foundational technology for next-generation crop improvement.
• It offers solutions for agriculture, sustainability, and climate resilience.
• Continued development of tools and workflows will enhance its impact on plant breeding.