[Research progress and prospects in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in sorghum]

Sorghum is an important grain and cash crop in China, and the promotion and application of this crop have long been constrained by a shortage of genetic resources. Issues such as narrow genetic background and outdated breeding techniques have severely hindered the development and dissemination of new sorghum varieties. Although gene editing has demonstrated significant potential in the genetic improvement of crops since its inception, the application of this technology in sorghum remains lagging. This paper provides a systematic review of the latest breakthroughs in CRISPR-Cas9 in sorghum. Focusing on abiotic stress, growth and development, and quality, we explore the innovative applications of this technology in expanding genetic diversity, improving stress tolerance, optimizing plant architecture and yield potential, and enhancing quality characteristics. Additionally, we analyze the main technical challenges including low genetic transformation efficiency and insufficient adaptability of editing tools facing the gene editing in sorghum. Finally, we make an outlook on the future prospects of next-generation gene editing technologies in the genetic improvement of sorghum. This paper can provide important theoretical references for sorghum molecular breeding, and hold significant practical significance for safeguarding China's food security and enhancing the competitiveness of the sorghum industry.