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Sharma A, Dheer P, Rautela I, Thapliyal P, Thapliyal P, Bajpai AB, Sharma MD. A review on strategies for crop improvement against drought stress through molecular insights. 3 Biotech 2024; 14:173. [PMID: 38846012 PMCID: PMC11150236 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-024-04020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The demand for food goods is rising along with the world population growth, which is directly related to the yield of agricultural crops around the world. However, a number of environmental factors, including floods, salinity, moisture, and drought, have a detrimental effect on agricultural production around the world. Among all of these stresses, drought stress (DS) poses a constant threat to agricultural crops and is a significant impediment to global agricultural productivity. Its potency and severity are expected to increase in the future years. A variety of techniques have been used to generate drought-resistant plants in order to get around this restriction. Different crop plants exhibit specific traits that contribute to drought resistance (DR), such as early flowering, drought escape (DE), and leaf traits. We are highlighting numerous methods that can be used to overcome the effects of DS in this review. Agronomic methods, transgenic methods, the use of sufficient fertilizers, and molecular methods such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs)-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9), virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, microRNA (miRNA) technology, and OMICS-based approaches make up the majority of these techniques. CRISPR technology has rapidly become an increasingly popular choice among researchers exploring natural tolerance to abiotic stresses although, only a few plants have been produced so far using this technique. In order to address the difficulties imposed by DS, new plants utilizing the CRISPR technology must be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Pallavi Dheer
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Indra Rautela
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied and Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Preeti Thapliyal
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied and Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Priya Thapliyal
- Department of Biochemistry, H.N.B. Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand 246174 India
| | - Atal Bihari Bajpai
- Department of Botany, D.B.S. (PG) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Manish Dev Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
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Ahmar S, Hensel G, Gruszka D. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing techniques and new breeding strategies in cereals - current status, improvements, and perspectives. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108248. [PMID: 37666372 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Cereal crops, including triticeae species (barley, wheat, rye), as well as edible cereals (wheat, corn, rice, oat, rye, sorghum), are significant suppliers for human consumption, livestock feed, and breweries. Over the past half-century, modern varieties of cereal crops with increased yields have contributed to global food security. However, presently cultivated elite crop varieties were developed mainly for optimal environmental conditions. Thus, it has become evident that taking into account the ongoing climate changes, currently a priority should be given to developing new stress-tolerant cereal cultivars. It is necessary to enhance the accuracy of methods and time required to generate new cereal cultivars with the desired features to adapt to climate change and keep up with the world population expansion. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been developed as a powerful and versatile genome editing tool to achieve desirable traits, such as developing high-yielding, stress-tolerant, and disease-resistant transgene-free lines in major cereals. Despite recent advances, the CRISPR/Cas9 application in cereals faces several challenges, including a significant amount of time required to develop transgene-free lines, laboriousness, and a limited number of genotypes that may be used for the transformation and in vitro regeneration. Additionally, developing elite lines through genome editing has been restricted in many countries, especially Europe and New Zealand, due to a lack of flexibility in GMO regulations. This review provides a comprehensive update to researchers interested in improving cereals using gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9. We will review some critical and recent studies on crop improvements and their contributing factors to superior cereals through gene-editing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Ahmar
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Centre for Plant Genome Engineering, Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany; Centre of Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Damian Gruszka
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
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Yuan K, Zhao X, Sun W, Yang L, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Ji J, Han F, Fang Z, Lv H. Map-based cloning and CRISPR/Cas9-based editing uncover BoNA1 as the causal gene for the no-anthocyanin-accumulation phenotype in curly kale ( Brassica oleracea var. sabellica). HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad133. [PMID: 37564271 PMCID: PMC10410298 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Brassica oleracea comprises several important vegetable and ornamental crops, including curly kale, ornamental kale, cabbage, broccoli, and others. The accumulation of anthocyanins, important secondary metabolites valuable to human health, in these plants varies widely and is responsible for their pink to dark purple colors. Some curly kale varieties lack anthocyanins, making these plants completely green. The genetic basis of this trait is still unknown. We crossed the curly kale inbred line BK2019 (without anthocyanins) with the cabbage inbred line YL1 (with anthocyanins) and the Chinese kale inbred line TO1000 (with anthocyanins) to generate segregating populations. The no-anthocyanin trait was genetically controlled by a recessive gene, bona1. We generated a linkage map and mapped bona1 to a 256-kb interval on C09. We identified one candidate gene, Bo9g058630, in the target genomic region; this gene is homologous to AT5G42800, which encodes a dihydroflavonol-4-reductase-like (DFR-like) protein in Arabidopsis. In BK2019, a 1-bp insertion was observed in the second exon of Bo9g058630 and directly produced a stop codon. To verify the candidate gene function, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology was applied to knock out Bo9g058630. We generated three bona1 mutants, two of which were completely green with no anthocyanins, confirming that Bo9g058630 corresponds to BoNA1. Different insertion/deletion mutations in BoNA1 exons were found in all six of the other no-anthocyanin kale varieties examined, supporting that independent disruption of BoNA1 resulted in no-anthocyanin varieties of B. oleracea. This study improves the understanding of the regulation mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in B. oleracea subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Wenru Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Limei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yangyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jialei Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Fengqing Han
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhiyuan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Honghao Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
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Wang Y, Tang Q, Pu L, Zhang H, Li X. CRISPR-Cas technology opens a new era for the creation of novel maize germplasms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1049803. [PMID: 36589095 PMCID: PMC9800880 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1049803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important food crops in the world with the greatest global production, and contributes to satiating the demands for human food, animal feed, and biofuels. With population growth and deteriorating environment, efficient and innovative breeding strategies to develop maize varieties with high yield and stress resistance are urgently needed to augment global food security and sustainable agriculture. CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome-editing technology (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated)) has emerged as an effective and powerful tool for plant science and crop improvement, and is likely to accelerate crop breeding in ways dissimilar to crossbreeding and transgenic technologies. In this review, we summarize the current applications and prospects of CRISPR-Cas technology in maize gene-function studies and the generation of new germplasm for increased yield, specialty corns, plant architecture, stress response, haploid induction, and male sterility. Optimization of gene editing and genetic transformation systems for maize is also briefly reviewed. Lastly, the challenges and new opportunities that arise with the use of the CRISPR-Cas technology for maize genetic improvement are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhua Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoling Tang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiwen Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinhai Li
- Institute of Crop Sciences/National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Chen H, Neubauer M, Wang JP. Enhancing HR Frequency for Precise Genome Editing in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:883421. [PMID: 35592579 PMCID: PMC9113527 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gene-editing tools, such as Zinc-fingers, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas, have fostered a new frontier in the genetic improvement of plants across the tree of life. In eukaryotes, genome editing occurs primarily through two DNA repair pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). NHEJ is the primary mechanism in higher plants, but it is unpredictable and often results in undesired mutations, frameshift insertions, and deletions. Homology-directed repair (HDR), which proceeds through HR, is typically the preferred editing method by genetic engineers. HR-mediated gene editing can enable error-free editing by incorporating a sequence provided by a donor template. However, the low frequency of native HR in plants is a barrier to attaining efficient plant genome engineering. This review summarizes various strategies implemented to increase the frequency of HDR in plant cells. Such strategies include methods for targeting double-strand DNA breaks, optimizing donor sequences, altering plant DNA repair machinery, and environmental factors shown to influence HR frequency in plants. Through the use and further refinement of these methods, HR-based gene editing may one day be commonplace in plants, as it is in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | - Matthew Neubauer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Jack P. Wang
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Forest Biotechnology Group, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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Biswas P, Anand U, Ghorai M, Pandey DK, Jha NK, Behl T, Kumar M, Kumar R, Shekhawat MS, Dey A. Unravelling the promise and limitations of CRISPR/Cas system in natural product research: Approaches and challenges. Biotechnol J 2021; 17:e2100507. [PMID: 34882991 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
An incredible array of natural products are produced by plants that serve several ecological functions, including protecting them from herbivores and microbes, attracting pollinators, and dispersing seeds. In addition to their obvious medical applications, natural products serve as flavouring agents, fragrances and many other uses by humans. With the increasing demand for natural products and the development of various gene engineering systems, researchers are trying to modify the plant genome to increase the biosynthetic pathway of the compound of interest or blocking the pathway of unwanted compound synthesis. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 has had widespread success in genome editing due to the system's high efficiency, ease of use, and accuracy which revolutionized the genome editing system in living organisms. This article highlights the method of the CRISPR/Cas system, its application in different organisms including microbes, algae, fungi and also higher plants in natural product research, its shortcomings and future prospects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Protha Biswas
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
| | - Uttpal Anand
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Mimosa Ghorai
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
| | - Devendra Kumar Pandey
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144402, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Tapan Behl
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Chandigarh, Punjab, 140401, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division, ICAR - Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019, India
| | - Radha Kumar
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Mahipal S Shekhawat
- Plant Biotechnology Unit, Kanchi Mamunivar Government Institute for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Puducherry, 605 008, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700073, India
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Liu X, Chen J, Zhang X. Genetic regulation of shoot architecture in cucumber. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2021; 8:143. [PMID: 34193859 PMCID: PMC8245548 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-021-00577-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop species with great economic value. Shoot architecture determines the visual appearance of plants and has a strong impact on crop management and yield. Unlike most model plant species, cucumber undergoes vegetative growth and reproductive growth simultaneously, in which leaves are produced from the shoot apical meristem and flowers are generated from leaf axils, during the majority of its life, a feature representative of the Cucurbitaceae family. Despite substantial advances achieved in understanding the regulation of plant form in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, and maize, our understanding of the mechanisms controlling shoot architecture in Cucurbitaceae crop species is still limited. In this review, we focus on recent progress on elucidating the genetic regulatory pathways underlying the determinant/indeterminant growth habit, leaf shape, branch outgrowth, tendril identity, and vine length determination in cucumber. We also discuss the potential of applying biotechnology tools and resources for the generation of ideal plant types with desired architectural features to improve cucumber productivity and cultivation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Liu
- State Key Laboratories of Agrobiotechnology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiacai Chen
- State Key Laboratories of Agrobiotechnology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaolan Zhang
- State Key Laboratories of Agrobiotechnology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Nuccio ML, Claeys H, Heyndrickx KS. CRISPR-Cas technology in corn: a new key to unlock genetic knowledge and create novel products. MOLECULAR BREEDING : NEW STRATEGIES IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT 2021; 41:11. [PMID: 37309473 PMCID: PMC10236071 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-021-01200-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Since its inception in 2012, CRISPR-Cas technologies have taken the life science community by storm. Maize genetics research is no exception. Investigators around the world have adapted CRISPR tools to advance maize genetics research in many ways. The principle application has been targeted mutagenesis to confirm candidate genes identified using map-based methods. Researchers are also developing tools to more effectively apply CRISPR-Cas technologies to maize because successful application of CRISPR-Cas relies on target gene identification, guide RNA development, vector design and construction, CRISPR-Cas reagent delivery to maize tissues, and plant characterization, each contributing unique challenges to CRISPR-Cas efficacy. Recent advances continue to chip away at major barriers that prevent more widespread use of CRISPR-Cas technologies in maize, including germplasm-independent delivery of CRISPR-Cas reagents and production of high-resolution genomic data in relevant germplasm to facilitate CRISPR-Cas experimental design. This has led to the development of novel breeding tools to advance maize genetics and demonstrations of how CRISPR-Cas technologies might be used to enhance maize germplasm. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-021-01200-9.
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Chen G, Zhou Y, Kishchenko O, Stepanenko A, Jatayev S, Zhang D, Borisjuk N. Gene editing to facilitate hybrid crop production. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 46:107676. [PMID: 33285253 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Capturing heterosis (hybrid vigor) is a promising way to increase productivity in many crops; hybrid crops often have superior yields, disease resistance, and stress tolerance compared with their parental inbred lines. The full utilization of heterosis faces a number of technical problems related to the specifics of crop reproductive biology, such as difficulties with generating and maintaining male-sterile lines and the low efficiency of natural cross-pollination for some genetic combinations. Innovative technologies, such as development of artificial in vitro systems for hybrid production and apomixis-based systems for maintenance of the resulting heterotic progeny, may substantially facilitate the production of hybrids. Genome editing using specifically targeted nucleases, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) systems, which recognize targets by RNA:DNA complementarity, has recently become an integral part of research and development in life science. In this review, we summarize the progress of genome editing technologies for facilitating the generation of mutant male sterile lines, applications of haploids for hybrid production, and the use of apomixis for the clonal propagation of elite hybrid lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guimin Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China
| | - Yuzhen Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China.
| | - Olena Kishchenko
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Institute of Cell Biology & Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - Anton Stepanenko
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Institute of Cell Biology & Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - Satyvaldy Jatayev
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
| | - Nikolai Borisjuk
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China.
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Kaul T, Sony SK, Verma R, Motelb KFA, Prakash AT, Eswaran M, Bharti J, Nehra M, Kaul R. Revisiting CRISPR/Cas-mediated crop improvement: Special focus on nutrition. J Biosci 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-020-00094-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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11
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Kishchenko O, Zhou Y, Jatayev S, Shavrukov Y, Borisjuk N. Gene editing applications to modulate crop flowering time and seed dormancy. ABIOTECH 2020; 1:233-245. [PMID: 36304127 PMCID: PMC9590486 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-020-00032-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 have been used to improve many agricultural traits, from disease resistance to grain quality. Now, emerging research has used CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene editing technologies to target plant reproduction, including major areas such as flowering time and seed dormancy. Traits related to these areas have important implications for agriculture, as manipulation of flowering time has multiple applications, including tailoring crops for regional adaptation and improving yield. Moreover, understanding seed dormancy will enable approaches to improve germination upon planting and prevent pre-harvest sprouting. Here, we summarize trends and recent advances in using gene editing to gain a better understanding of plant reproduction and apply the resulting information for crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Kishchenko
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
- Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, NAS of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Yuzhen Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
| | - Satyvaldy Jatayev
- Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh AgroTechnical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Yuri Shavrukov
- College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nikolai Borisjuk
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
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Sant’Ana RRA, Caprestano CA, Nodari RO, Agapito-Tenfen SZ. PEG-Delivered CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins System for Gene-Editing Screening of Maize Protoplasts. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1029. [PMID: 32887261 PMCID: PMC7564243 DOI: 10.3390/genes11091029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology allows the modification of DNA sequences in vivo at the location of interest. Although CRISPR-Cas9 can produce genomic changes that do not require DNA vector carriers, the use of transgenesis for the stable integration of DNA coding for gene-editing tools into plant genomes is still the most used approach. However, it can generate unintended transgenic integrations, while Cas9 prolonged-expression can increase cleavage at off-target sites. In addition, the selection of genetically modified cells from millions of treated ones, especially plant cells, is still challenging. In a protoplast system, previous studies claimed that such pitfalls would be averted by delivering pre-assembled ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) composed of purified recombinant Cas9 enzyme and in vitro transcribed guide RNA (gRNA) molecules. We, therefore, aimed to develop the first DNA-free protocol for gene-editing in maize and introduced RNPs into their protoplasts with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000. We performed an effective transformation of maize protoplasts using different gRNAs sequences targeting the inositol phosphate kinase gene, and by applying two different exposure times to RNPs. Using a low-cost Sanger sequencing protocol, we observed an efficiency rate of 0.85 up to 5.85%, which is equivalent to DNA-free protocols used in other plant species. A positive correlation was displayed between the exposure time and mutation frequency. The mutation frequency was gRNA sequence- and exposure time-dependent. In the present study, we demonstrated that the suitability of RNP transfection was proven as an effective screening platform for gene-editing in maize. This efficient and relatively easy assay method for the selection of gRNA suitable for the editing of the gene of interest will be highly useful for genome editing in maize, since the genome size and GC-content are large and high in the maize genome, respectively. Nevertheless, the large amplitude of mutations at the target site require scrutiny when checking mutations at off-target sites and potential safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Ribeiro Arnt Sant’Ana
- CropScience Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034000, Brazil; (R.R.A.S.); (C.A.C.); (R.O.N.)
| | - Clarissa Alves Caprestano
- CropScience Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034000, Brazil; (R.R.A.S.); (C.A.C.); (R.O.N.)
| | - Rubens Onofre Nodari
- CropScience Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034000, Brazil; (R.R.A.S.); (C.A.C.); (R.O.N.)
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13
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Bente H, Mittelsten Scheid O, Donà M. Versatile in vitro assay to recognize Cas9-induced mutations. PLANT DIRECT 2020; 4:e00269. [PMID: 33015536 PMCID: PMC7522499 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized molecular biology, and its impact on plant biotechnology and plant breeding cannot be over-estimated. In many plant species, its application for mutagenesis is now a routine procedure--if suitable target sites, sufficient expression of the Cas9 protein, and functioning sgRNAs are combined. sgRNAs differ in their efficiency, depending on parameters that are only poorly understood. Several software tools and experience from growing databases are supporting the design of sgRNAs, but some seemingly perfect sgRNAs turn out to be inefficient or fail entirely, and most data bases stem from work with mammalian cells. Different in vitro assays testing sgRNAs in reconstituted Cas9 complexes are available and useful to reduce the risk of failure, especially in plants when CRISPR/Cas9 application requires modifications within the germ line and laborious transformation protocols. Low sgRNA efficiency and long generation times in plants can also contribute to the workload and costs of screening for the wanted genome edits. Here, we present a protocol in which a simple, initial in vitro test for suitable sgRNAs is modified to accelerate genotyping of Cas9-induced mutations. We demonstrate applicability of our protocol for mutagenesis and mutation screen for specific genes in Arabidopsis, but the principle should be universally suitable to provide a simple, low-cost, and rapid method to identify edited genes also in other plants and other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heinrich Bente
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna BioCenter (VBC) Vienna Austria
| | - Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna BioCenter (VBC) Vienna Austria
| | - Mattia Donà
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna BioCenter (VBC) Vienna Austria
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14
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Kumar K, Gambhir G, Dass A, Tripathi AK, Singh A, Jha AK, Yadava P, Choudhary M, Rakshit S. Genetically modified crops: current status and future prospects. PLANTA 2020; 251:91. [PMID: 32236850 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03372-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
While transgenic technology has heralded a new era in crop improvement, several concerns have precluded their widespread acceptance. Alternative technologies, such as cisgenesis and genome-editing may address many of such issues and facilitate the development of genetically engineered crop varieties with multiple favourable traits. Genetic engineering and plant transformation have played a pivotal role in crop improvement via introducing beneficial foreign gene(s) or silencing the expression of endogenous gene(s) in crop plants. Genetically modified crops possess one or more useful traits, such as, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance, and nutritional improvement. To date, nearly 525 different transgenic events in 32 crops have been approved for cultivation in different parts of the world. The adoption of transgenic technology has been shown to increase crop yields, reduce pesticide and insecticide use, reduce CO2 emissions, and decrease the cost of crop production. However, widespread adoption of transgenic crops carrying foreign genes faces roadblocks due to concerns of potential toxicity and allergenicity to human beings, potential environmental risks, such as chances of gene flow, adverse effects on non-target organisms, evolution of resistance in weeds and insects etc. These concerns have prompted the adoption of alternative technologies like cisgenesis, intragenesis, and most recently, genome editing. Some of these alternative technologies can be utilized to develop crop plants that are free from any foreign gene hence, it is expected that such crops might achieve higher consumer acceptance as compared to the transgenic crops and would get faster regulatory approvals. In this review, we present a comprehensive update on the current status of the genetically modified (GM) crops under cultivation. We also discuss the issues affecting widespread adoption of transgenic GM crops and comment upon the recent tools and techniques developed to address some of these concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishan Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Geetika Gambhir
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Abhishek Dass
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Amit Kumar Tripathi
- National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, 462001, India
| | - Alla Singh
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Abhishek Kumar Jha
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Pranjal Yadava
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Mukesh Choudhary
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Sujay Rakshit
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 141004, India
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15
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Liu Y, Gao Y, Gao Y, Zhang Q. Targeted deletion of floral development genes in Arabidopsis with CRISPR/Cas9 using the RNA endoribonuclease Csy4 processing system. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2019; 6:99. [PMID: 31666960 PMCID: PMC6804923 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-019-0179-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The formation of flowers in higher plants is controlled by complex gene regulatory networks. The study of floral development in Arabidopsis is promoted and maintained by transposon-tagged mutant lines. In this study, we report a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing system based on RNA endoribonuclease Csy4 processing to induce high-efficiency and inheritable targeted deletion of transcription factors involved in floral development in Arabidopsis. Using AP1, SVP, and TFL1 as the target genes, multisite and multiple-gene mutations were achieved with a tandemly arrayed Csy4-sgRNA architecture to express multiplexed sgRNAs from a single transcript driven by the Pol II promoter in transgenic lines. Targeted deletions of chromosomal fragments between the first exon and second exon in either one or three genes were generated by using a single binary vector. Interestingly, the efficiency of site-targeted deletion was comparable to that of indel mutation with the multiplexed sgRNAs. DNA sequencing analysis of RT-PCR products showed that targeted deletions of AP1 and TFL1 could lead to frameshift mutations and introduce premature stop codons to disrupt the open-reading frames of the target genes. In addition, no RT-PCR amplified product was acquired after SVP-targeted deletion. Furthermore, the targeted deletions resulted in abnormal floral development in the mutant lines compared to that of wild-type plants. AP1 and SVP mutations increased plant branching significantly, while TFL1 mutant plants displayed a change from indeterminate to determinate inflorescences. Thus, our results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 with the RNA endoribonuclease Csy4 processing system is an efficient tool to study floral development and improve floral traits rapidly and simply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhu Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, College of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, 100083 Beijing, China
| | - Yike Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, College of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, 100083 Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, College of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, 100083 Beijing, China
| | - Qixiang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, College of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, 100083 Beijing, China
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16
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Nadeem M, Li J, Yahya M, Sher A, Ma C, Wang X, Qiu L. Research Progress and Perspective on Drought Stress in Legumes: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2541. [PMID: 31126133 PMCID: PMC6567229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change, food shortage, water scarcity, and population growth are some of the threatening challenges being faced in today's world. Drought stress (DS) poses a constant challenge for agricultural crops and has been considered a severe constraint for global agricultural productivity; its intensity and severity are predicted to increase in the near future. Legumes demonstrate high sensitivity to DS, especially at vegetative and reproductive stages. They are mostly grown in the dry areas and are moderately drought tolerant, but severe DS leads to remarkable production losses. The most prominent effects of DS are reduced germination, stunted growth, serious damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, decrease in net photosynthesis, and a reduction in nutrient uptake. To curb the catastrophic effect of DS in legumes, it is imperative to understand its effects, mechanisms, and the agronomic and genetic basis of drought for sustainable management. This review highlights the impact of DS on legumes, mechanisms, and proposes appropriate management approaches to alleviate the severity of water stress. In our discussion, we outline the influence of water stress on physiological aspects (such as germination, photosynthesis, water and nutrient uptake), growth parameters and yield. Additionally, mechanisms, various management strategies, for instance, agronomic practices (planting time and geometry, nutrient management), plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), functional genomics and advanced strategies (CRISPR-Cas9) are also critically discussed. We propose that the integration of several approaches such as agronomic and biotechnological strategies as well as advanced genome editing tools is needed to develop drought-tolerant legume cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nadeem
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Jiajia Li
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Muhammad Yahya
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Alam Sher
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Chuanxi Ma
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Lijuan Qiu
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Nadeem M, Li J, Yahya M, Wang M, Ali A, Cheng A, Wang X, Ma C. Grain Legumes and Fear of Salt Stress: Focus on Mechanisms and Management Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E799. [PMID: 30781763 PMCID: PMC6412900 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Salinity is an ever-present major constraint and a major threat to legume crops, particularly in areas with irrigated agriculture. Legumes demonstrate high sensitivity, especially during vegetative and reproductive phases. This review gives an overview of legumes sensitivity to salt stress (SS) and mechanisms to cope with salinity stress under unfavorable conditions. It also focuses on the promising management approaches, i.e., agronomic practices, breeding approaches, and genome editing techniques to improve performance of legumes under SS. Now, the onus is on researchers to comprehend the plants physiological and molecular mechanisms, in addition to various responses as part of their stress tolerance strategy. Due to their ability to fix biological nitrogen, high protein contents, dietary fiber, and essential mineral contents, legumes have become a fascinating group of plants. There is an immense need to develop SS tolerant legume varieties to meet growing demand of protein worldwide. This review covering crucial areas ranging from effects, mechanisms, and management strategies, may elucidate further the ways to develop SS-tolerant varieties and to produce legume crops in unfavorable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nadeem
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Jiajia Li
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Muhammad Yahya
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Minghua Wang
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Asif Ali
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Andong Cheng
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Chuanxi Ma
- School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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18
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Liu G, Li J, Godwin ID. Genome Editing by CRISPR/Cas9 in Sorghum Through Biolistic Bombardment. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1931:169-183. [PMID: 30652290 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9039-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The advanced biotechnology CRISPR/Cas9 as a powerful genome editing tool has displayed great potential for improving important agronomic traits such as yield and quality. It has gained momentum worldwide for gene function research of plants in recent years. As for cereals, numerous studies of CRISPR/Cas9 have been reported predominately on rice and quite a few on other cereals including maize, wheat, and barley. In contrast, there are only a couple of reports on sorghum up to date. In this chapter, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been investigated for sorghum genome editing through biolistic bombardment. Two target genes, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and phytoene desaturase (PDS), have been investigated by CRISPR/Cas9 though bomboarment. Successful genome editing has been achieved within the sorghum genotype Tx430. Furthermore, sequencing PCR product of transgenic plants has confirmed that the CRISPR/Cas9 successfully edited the target gene in sorghum. Both homozygosis and heterozygosis editings of CAD gene have been confirmed in T0 primary transgenic lines through sequencing PCR products. T1 generation of CRISPR plants has been investigated as well. The results illustrated that the edited gene has passed down to next generation. More experiments, such as optimizing promoters for guide RNA (gRNA) and Cas9 in sorghum, are under investigation. Three factors were considered crucial elements to establish an efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome editing in sorghum: (1) an efficient transformation system, (2) the design of targeted gene sequence for gRNA, (3) effective expression of CRISPR components including Cas9 and gRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoquan Liu
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Jieqing Li
- College of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China
| | - Ian D Godwin
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Basharat Z, Novo LAB, Yasmin A. Genome Editing Weds CRISPR: What Is in It for Phytoremediation? PLANTS 2018; 7:plants7030051. [PMID: 30720787 PMCID: PMC6161122 DOI: 10.3390/plants7030051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The arrival of sequence-specific endonucleases that allow genome editing has shaken the pillars of basic and applied plant biology. Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a revolutionary genome-engineering tool that enables the enhancement of targeted traits in plants. Numerous plants, including energy crops, known for their potential to tolerate, immobilize, and stabilize inorganic and organic pollutants, have already been edited using different CRISPR systems. Moreover, a large array of genes responsible for increased metal tolerance, metal uptake and hyperaccumulation have already been identified. Thus, the CRISPR-mediated genome reprogramming of plants, including its use in gene expression regulation through transcriptional repression or activation (CRISPRi and CRISPRa), could be of paramount importance for phytoremediation. The simplicity, inexpensiveness, and capabilities of this gene editing technique could soon be used to enhance plants and bacteria involved in phytotechnologies, such as phystabilization, phytoextraction, phytomining, phytovolatilization, and bio-energy generation. In this brief viewpoint piece, we posit some of the potential benefits of CRISPR for phytoremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarrin Basharat
- Microbiology & Biotechnology Research Lab, Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan.
- Jamil-ur-Rahman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
| | - Luís A B Novo
- GeoBioTec Research Centre, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
- Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry-Associated Laboratory, Faculty of Biotechnology, Catholic University of Portugal, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Azra Yasmin
- Microbiology & Biotechnology Research Lab, Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan.
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