Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 160-168 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 167 Despite the remarkable progress, several challenges remain in the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in tea breeding. One of the primary challenges is the off-target effects, which can lead to unintended genetic modifications and potential ecological risks. Additionally, regulatory hurdles and public acceptance of genetically edited crops pose significant barriers to the widespread adoption of this technology. However, these challenges also present opportunities for further research and development. Advances in delivery systems, such as DNA-free methods, and improvements in editing specificity can mitigate off-target effects and enhance the safety of CRISPR applications. Moreover, the integration of CRISPR technology with other biotechnological tools and breeding strategies can accelerate the development of superior tea cultivars with enhanced disease resistance and quality traits. The future of CRISPR technology in tea breeding looks promising, with the potential to revolutionize the industry by producing high-quality, disease-resistant varieties. As the technology continues to evolve, it is expected to become more efficient, precise, and accessible, thereby overcoming current limitations and expanding its applications. Collaborative efforts among researchers, breeders, and policymakers will be essential to address regulatory and public acceptance issues, ensuring that the benefits of CRISPR technology are realized in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. The successful integration of CRISPR/Cas9 in tea breeding will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of the tea industry, meeting the growing demand for high-quality tea while safeguarding against diseases and environmental challenges. Acknowledgments The authors express gratitude to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their feedback on the manuscript of this study. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Reference Ahmad S., Wei X., Sheng Z., Hu P., and Tang S., 2020, CRISPR/Cas9 for development of disease resistance in plants: recent progress, limitations and future prospects, Briefings in Functional Genomics, 19(1): 26-39. https://doi.org/10.1093/bfgp/elz041 Arora L., and Narula A., 2017, Gene editing and crop improvement using CRISPR-Cas9 system, Frontiers in Plant Science, 8: 1932. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01932 Borrelli V., Brambilla V., Rogowsky P., Marocco A., and Lanubile A., 2018, The enhancement of plant disease resistance using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, Frontiers in Plant Science, 9: 1245. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01245 Chandrasekaran J., Brumin M., Wolf D., Leibman D., Klap C., Pearlsman M., Sherman A., Arazi T., and Gal-On A., 2016, Development of broad virus resistance in non-transgenic cucumber using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, Molecular Plant Pathology, 17(7): 1140-1153. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12375 Chen K., Wang Y., Zhang R., Zhang H., and Gao C., 2019, CRISPR/Cas genome editing and precision plant breeding in agriculture, Annual Review of Plant Biology, 70: 667-697. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050718-100049 Gupta A., Mishra G., Yadav H., Gupta R., Singh A., Singh J., and Singh P., 2023, Enhancing crop resilience through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated development of disease-resistant cultivars, International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13(10): 2773-2783. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i102942 Langner T., Kamoun S., and Belhaj K., 2018, CRISPR crops: plant genome editing toward disease resistance, Annual Review of Phytopathology, 56: 479-512. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-050158 Li C., Brant E., Budak H., and Zhang B., 2021, CRISPR/Cas: a Nobel Prize award-winning precise genome editing technology for gene therapy and crop improvement, Journal of Zhejiang University-Science B, 22: 253-284. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B2100009 Li H., Song K., Li B., Zhang X., Wang D., Dong S., and Yang L., 2023, CRISPR/Cas9 editing sites identification and multi-elements association analysis in Camellia sinensis, Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24(20): 15317. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015317
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