CRISPR–Cas9-based genetic engineering for crop improvement under drought stress. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sami, Abdul; Xue, Zhao; Tazein, Saheera; Arshad, Ayesha; He Zhu, Zong; Ping Chen, Ya; Hong, Yue; Tian Zhu, Xiao; Jin Zhou, Ke
• Is Part Of: Bioengineered. Volume 12:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 5814
• Page End: 5829
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Drought -- CRISPR–Cas9 -- plant productivity -- ABA regulation -- ethylene -- genome editing; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1969831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2165-5987

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In several parts of the world, the prevalence and severity of drought are predicted to increase, creating considerable pressure on global agricultural yield. Among all abiotic stresses, drought is anticipated to produce the most substantial impact on soil biota and plants, along with complex environmental impacts on other ecological systems. Being sessile, plants tend to be the least resilient to drought-induced osmotic stress, which reduces nutrient accessibility due to soil heterogeneity and limits nutrient access to the root system. Drought tolerance is a complex quantitative trait regulated by multiple genes, and it is one of the most challenging characteristics to study and classify. Fortunately, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology has paved the way as a new frontier in crop improvement, thereby revolutionizing plant breeding. The application of CRISPER systems has proven groundbreaking across numerous biological fields, particularly in biomedicine and agriculture. The present review highlights the principle and optimization of CRISPR systems and their implementation for crop improvement, particularly in terms of drought tolerance, yield, and domestication. Furthermore, we address the ways in which innovative genome editing tools can help recognize and modify novel genes coffering drought tolerance. We anticipate the establishment of effective strategies of crop yield improvement in water-limited regions through collaborative efforts in the near future.