Jul 2026· Bulletin of the National Research Centre· Vol 50· 1 citation· 52 references
TL;DR
This review critically synthesizes recent advances in CRISPR applications for major wheat fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, rusts, Fusarium head blight, and wheat blast, and highlights future opportunities for integrating genome editing with modern breeding to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, disease-resistant wheat cultivars for sustainable agriculture.
Abstract
Wheat production is increasingly threatened by fungal diseases that reduce yield, grain quality, and global food security. Conventional breeding has improved disease resistance but remains constrained by long breeding cycles, polyploid genome complexity, and the continual emergence of new pathogen races. CRISPR-mediated genome editing has emerged as a powerful complementary approach for developing durable and broad-spectrum disease resistance through precise modification of resistance (R) genes, susceptibility (S) genes, and immune regulatory pathways. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in CRISPR applications for major wheat fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, rusts, Fusarium head blight, and wheat blast. Emerging genome-editing technologies, such as multiplex editing, base editing, and prime editing, are discussed alongside their applications and current limitations in wheat. The review further examines biological, technical, and regulatory challenges affecting practical deployment and highlights future opportunities for integrating genome editing with modern breeding to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, disease-resistant wheat cultivars for sustainable agriculture.
This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of a recent advances in CRISPR–Cas technologies and their strategic applications in crop genetics and hybrid breeding, and showcases how these technologies accelerate hybrid breeding by engineering male sterility systems, fixing heterosis, and generating high-throughput mutant libraries for trait discovery.
Syed Riaz Ahmed, Jahangir Khan, I. Ijaz et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Overall, the evidence suggests that CRISPR Cas-9 has the potential to accelerate plant breeding, improve food security, and support the development of climate resilient crops while reducing the time and uncertainty associated with traditional breeding methods.
Victoria Imafidor· World Journal of Advanced En...· 0 citations
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.
Prerna Srivastava, D. Singh, Rima Kumari et al.· Discover Plants· 0 citations
This review summarizes examples of reduced tuber browning, modified starch characteristics, and editing of susceptibility loci for late blight and viral resistance, as well as technical challenges specific to potato, such as allele identification in tetraploids, editing efficiency, and bystander edits.
Hoda A. Ahmed, Alaa Youssef, E. H. Radwan et al.· Plant Cell Tissue and Organ...· 0 citations
Overall, CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing represents a promising and efficient approach for accelerating the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and stress-tolerant rice cultivars, thereby contributing significantly to sustainable rice production and global food security under changing environmental conditions.
Sravani Verupanda, A. Chakraborty, Mimansha Shrivastava et al.· Journal of Applied Genetics· 0 citations
The future of crop improvement using GEd technologies lies in the harmonisation or alignment of global policies and regulations to support the trade of agricultural produce and ensure that growers and consumers can benefit from GEd technology.
Michael G. K. Jones· Sugar Industry international· 0 citations
