Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 178-186 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 178 Feature Review Open Access Advanced Genetic Tools for Rice Breeding: CRISPR/Cas9 and Its Role in Yield Trait Improvement HongliMa College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China Corresponding email: mahongli@fafu.edu.cn Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0018 Received: 20 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 26 Jul., 2024 Published: 05 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Ma, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Ma H.L., 2024, Advanced genetic tools for rice breeding: CRISPR/Cas9 and its role in yield trait improvement, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(4): 178-186 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0018) Abstract The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized genetic research, providing rice breeding with unprecedented precision and efficiency in genetic modification. This study synthesizes the current applications and advancements of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in rice breeding, particularly focusing on yield trait improvement. By facilitating targeted gene editing, CRISPR/Cas9 enables the modification of specific genes associated with yield, such as grain size, panicle length, and stress tolerance. Key studies demonstrate its effectiveness in enhancing grain quality and increasing overall yield by editing genes like Grain Size 3 (GS3) and OsSAP. Additionally, the technology’s ability to edit multiple genes concurrently through multiplexing has expedited the development of rice varieties tailored to diverse environmental conditions and agricultural demands. Challenges remain, including regulatory hurdles, off-target effects, and the need for precise delivery systems. However, advancements in base and prime editing are addressing these issues, broadening the scope of CRISPR applications. The integration of CRISPR/Cas9 with traditional breeding methods and functional genomics is also enhancing the precision and speed of developing new rice cultivars. Continued research and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for leveraging CRISPR/Cas9's full potential to meet global food security challenges. Keywords CRISPR/Cas9; Rice breeding; Genetic editing; Yield improvement; Agricultural biotechnology 1 Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, making its yield and quality critical for global food security. Traditional rice breeding methods have significantly contributed to yield improvements; however, these methods are often time-consuming and limited in their ability to introduce precise genetic changes. The advent of advanced genetic tools, particularly the CRISPR/Cas9 system, has revolutionized the field of plant breeding by enabling precise and efficient genome editing. This study aims to explore the role of CRISPR/Cas9 in rice breeding, focusing on its applications in improving yield traits. Rice breeding has historically relied on conventional methods such as cross-breeding and selection to enhance desirable traits like yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. While these methods have been successful, they are often labor-intensive and time-consuming. Recent advances in molecular biology have introduced new techniques that allow for more precise genetic modifications. Among these, CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool for targeted genome editing, offering unprecedented opportunities for rapid and accurate trait improvement in rice (Li et al., 2021; Rao and Wang, 2021; Liu et al., 2022). The increasing global population and the consequent rise in food demand necessitate the development of high-yielding and resilient crop varieties. Genetic tools like CRISPR/Cas9 are crucial in this context as they enable the precise modification of genes responsible for key agronomic traits. This technology has been successfully used to enhance various traits in crops, including yield, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses (Ahmad et al., 2020; Usman et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2021b). The ability to make specific, heritable changes in the genome makes CRISPR/Cas9 an invaluable tool for modern agriculture, facilitating the development of crops that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and other environmental factors (Usman et al., 2021; Park et al., 2022).
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