Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 156-164 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 158 Sugarcane is confronted with numerous troubles such as drought, saline-alkali land, high temperature and pests and diseases. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology can address these challenges by editing genes related to these stresses. Editing genes related to drought resistance helps sugarcane grow better in arid environments, which means more stable sugarcane yields and reduced sugarcane losses (Krishna et al., 2023; Tanveer et al., 2024). Technology is constantly advancing, and the genetic modification system is also constantly being optimized. Sugarcane can also be grown without transgenic genome editing. Through transient expression systems and precise screening processes, researchers can cultivate gene-edited plants without involving genetically modified organisms. This solved the regulatory problem and laid the foundation for the commercial application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in sugarcane improvement (Krishna et al., 2023). Integrating genome editing technology into sugarcane breeding is a transformative innovation in this transformation method, which is of great significance and importance. 3.3 Optimization of sugarcane conversion system The application effect of CRISPR/Cas9 in sugarcane depends on the efficiency of the transformation system. Due to the complexity of the sugarcane genome, it is of great significance to optimize the transformation methods and obtain reliable genome editing results. Strengthening the transformation methods (including agrobacterium-mediated technology and bio-particle delivery methods) to improve the binding of CRISPR/Cas9 components in sugarcane cells (Eid et al., 2021; Laksana et al., 2024). These improvements have increased the success rate of genome editing in sugarcane and cultivated varieties with excellent genes. With the advancement of technology, the transformation system is constantly being optimized. Sugarcane plants can be grown without transgenic genome editing. Through transient expression systems and precise screening processes, researchers can cultivate gene-edited plants without involving genetically modified organisms. This resolves regulatory issues and lays a solid foundation for the commercial application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in sugarcane improvement (Krishna et al., 2023). Integrating genome editing technology into sugarcane breeding is a transformative innovation in this transformation method and is of great significance. 4 Gene editing strategies to increase sucrose accumulation in sugarcane 4.1 Editing genes related to sucrose-synthesizing enzymes The coding gene of sucrose synthase was precisely modified, which increased the sugar accumulation in sugarcane. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, researchers can target key genes (sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS); sucrose synthase (SuSy). The CRISPR/Cas9 system regulates the expression of these genes, which can enhance the efficiency of sucrose production and thereby increase sugar output. The successful application on other crops further proves that this method can improve sugarcane varieties (Arora and Narula, 2017; Hussin et al., 2022). CRISPR/Cas9 simultaneously edits multiple alleles, which can significantly enhance the trait of sugar accumulation. At the same time, for multiple loci, sugarcane varieties with high sucrose content can be cultivated. The accuracy and efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 technology lay a solid foundation for complex genetic modification and is a sustainable way to increase sugar production (Oz et al., 2021; Tanveer et al., 2024). 4.2 Movement and storage of sucrose in sugarcane In sugarcane plants, the key to increasing the sugar content of sugarcane lies in the transportation of sugar. The sugar transport process involves the synthesis of sugar in the leaves of sugarcane and its transportation to the stems for storage. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology can optimize the sugar production process by editing the genes that control this process. By modifying these genes with CRISPR/Cas9, sugar can be transported more efficiently, helping sugarcane store more sugar and thereby increasing the total sugar yield (Chen et al., 2019; Krishna et al., 2023). Gene editing can also change the distribution pattern of sugar in sugarcane. Some genes in sugarcane can determine whether sugar is stored or used for other functions in sugarcane growth. Editing these genes can promote more sugar storage rather than consumption in other parts to enhance the sugar accumulation efficiency in sugarcane (Zafar et al., 2020; Ahmar et al., 2023).
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