CRISPR-driven genome modification and biofortification: innovative techniques for creating climate-resistant and nutritionally improved crops

Synthetic Rice Genome and Epigenetic Engineering: Emerging Strategies for Climate-Resilient Crops: Review Article

Rice (Oryza sativa) is among the most important staple food crops in the world, serving as a main source of food security for approximately one-half of the world's population. Nevertheless, its cultivation is becoming compromised due to climate change, as repeated drought and saline soils, along with erratic temperatures, pose heavy restrictions on its yield. Traditional breeding and genetic engineering have contributed to enhancing crop performance; however, they are still constrained by the complex stress-responsive networks and by the time taken to develop tolerant cultivars. In order to overcome these challenges, technologies on the horizon, synthetic genomics and epigenetic engineering, are becoming game-changers in crop science. Synthetic genomics permits the refactoring and partial reassembly of plant genomes, thereby allowing new gene circuits to be built in, synthetic chromosomes to be installed, and multiplex editing via CRISPR-mediated alterations to increase drought tolerance or salinity resistance or boost photosynthesis in rice. Concurrently, epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone modification, as well as non-coding RNA-mediated regulation, can impose a more dynamic and reversible layer of control on gene expression by modulating stress responses while leaving the actual DNA sequence unaltered. Emerging evidence indicates that certain epigenetic marks are capable of being 'remembered' across generations and could influence long-term resilience to stress. This review emphasizes the use of synthetic genomics-based epigenetic regulation as a new horizon in climate-resilient rice improvement.

Accelerating iron biofortification in millets: progress, challenges, and future prospects

Global Status, Scope and Future Prospects of Biotechnology in Vegetable Crops

Vegetable crops play an indispensable role in global food and nutritional security, yet their production is limited by many challenges. Biotechnology has revolutionised the improvement of vegetable crops worldwide through modern technologies such as genetic engineering, marker-assisted selection, CRISPR/Cas genome editing, tissue culture and molecular breeding, resulted in the development of climate-resilient, nutritionally enriched and highyielding cultivars that have helped to reshape the vegetable production system. Landmark achievements in plant biotechnology, namely virus-free planting material, multiple disease resistance, Bt brinjal, Flavr Savr tomato, Purple Tomato™, genome-edited GABA tomato and high anthocyanin/carotene content have revolutionised vegetable production systems globally. In addition, new intervention options such as biofortification, edible vaccines, RNA interference and biotechnology-based hybrid breeding are not only creating possibilities at the interface of agriculture and nutrition but also in public health. This status paper highlights recent advances, successful applications and emerging opportunities of biotechnology to strengthen vegetable production under changing climatic conditions.

CRISPR-Cas9: an emerging and precise genome editing system for crops to combat food insecurity

This review summarizes CRISPR principles, highlights technical breakthroughs and crop applications that mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, and outlines practical challenges and future directions necessary for responsible deployment in agriculture.

Emerging applications of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in horticultural crop improvement

CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has emerged as a powerful and precise tool for crop improvement, enabling targeted modification of genes associated with agriculturally important traits. In horticultural crops, CRISPR technologies have accelerated the improvement of disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, yield, nutritional quality, shelf life, flowering behavior, and ornamental characteristics. Among available genome-editing platforms, CRISPR/Cas9 is the most widely utilized because of its simplicity, efficiency, and versatility. The technology enables precise genome modification through targeted DNA cleavage followed by endogenous repair mechanisms, facilitating gene knockout, insertion, or sequence alteration. Recent advances in genome editing have significantly expanded its applications in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops. Successful modifications targeting genes associated with stress tolerance, fruit ripening, pigment biosynthesis, flowering regulation, and pathogen resistance demonstrate the enormous potential of CRISPR-mediated breeding for horticultural improvement. However, several challenges, including low transformation efficiency, genotype-dependent regeneration, prolonged juvenile phases, polyploidy, and regulatory concerns, continue to limit its broader application in many horticultural species. This review summarizes recent progress in CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing in horticultural crops, including strategies for guide RNA design, transformation, regeneration, development of transgene-free plants, and regulatory considerations. Furthermore, emerging advances such as precision editing technologies and improved delivery systems are discussed as promising approaches for enhancing editing efficiency and expanding future applications. Overall, CRISPR/Cas technologies hold substantial potential for accelerating the development of climate-resilient, high-quality, and nutritionally improved horticultural crops.

Integrating conventional breeding, biotechnology, and genome editing for herbicide-resistant rice: implications for sustainable development goals

Global population growth, climate variability, labour scarcity, and declining availability of arable land have intensified the demand for sustainable and resource-efficient weed management strategies in rice production systems. Herbicide-resistant (HR) rice has emerged as a transformative innovation capable of improving weed control efficiency, facilitating direct-seeded rice cultivation, reducing labour dependency, and enhancing yield stability under diverse agroecological conditions. This review critically examines the evolution of HR rice technologies, herbicide modes of action, resistance mechanisms, and integrated weed management approaches, with particular emphasis on the convergence of conventional breeding, biotechnology, and advanced genome editing platforms for the development of next-generation HR rice varieties. The review further explores the agronomic, ecological, and socio-economic dimensions associated with HR rice adoption, including challenges related to HR weed evolution, gene flow to wild and weedy rice relatives, biodiversity loss, ecological imbalance, and long-term sustainability concerns. The concept of the HR rice paradox is introduced to describe the delicate balance between agricultural intensification and ecological stewardship, where enhanced weed management efficiency must be aligned with environmental safety and sustainable farming practices. The review emphasizes that the future success of HR rice depends on integrated strategies combining genetic innovation, region-specific agronomic management, resistance monitoring, and policy frameworks to ensure sustainable rice production, food security, and environmentally responsible agricultural transformation aligned with global sustainability goals.