Evaluating CRISPR/Cas9's Progressive Role in Crop Enhancement and Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

This review paper provides a comprehensive exploration of the progressive effect of CRISPR/Cas9 genome altering innovation on functional genomics and crop enhancement. It highlights the evolution of CRISPR technology, emphasizing its versatile applications in plant breeding. The paper discusses the transition from gene knockouts to precise modifications and multiplex genome engineering, with a focus on enhancing plant nutrition, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. Traditional Cas9-guide RNA delivery methods are compared with ascending CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) as solutions to overcome limitations associated with plasmid-based systems. The booming worldwide claim for food crops underscores the possibility of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing for improving cereal features. Earlier innovations like zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and TALENs, CRISPR/Cas9 offers a more cost-effective and time-efficient approach. It enables the blueprint and cloning of numerous gRNAs for accurate genome targeting, with enhanced specificity and efficiency achieved through modified Cas9 cassettes and enzymes from various bacterial species. The review also emphasizes CRISPR/Cas9's potential to develop non-genetically modified (Non-GMO) crops with certain needed traits, thereby boosting yield potential under various stress conditions. Furthermore, the article discusses problems and solutions analogous with CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, providing valuable insights for researchers in crop advancement.