Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing for Crop Improvement: Paradigm Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture

Version 1 : Received: 30 June 2021 / Approved: 1 July 2021 / Online: 1 July 2021 (14:13:20 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Rajput, M.; Choudhary, K.; Kumar, M.; Vivekanand, V.; Chawade, A.; Ortiz, R.; Pareek, N. RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing for Crop Improvement: Paradigm Shift towards Sustainable Agriculture. Plants 2021, 10, 1914. Rajput, M.; Choudhary, K.; Kumar, M.; Vivekanand, V.; Chawade, A.; Ortiz, R.; Pareek, N. RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing for Crop Improvement: Paradigm Shift towards Sustainable Agriculture. Plants 2021, 10, 1914.

Abstract

With the rapid population growth, there is an urgent need for innovative crop improvement approaches to meet the increasing demand for food. Classical crop improvement approaches involve, however, a backbreaking process that cannot equipoise with increasing crop demand. RNA based approaches i.e. RNAi-mediated gene regulation and site-specific nuclease based CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing has made advances in the efficient targeted modification in many crops for the higher yield and resistance to diseases and different stresses. In functional genomics, RNA interference (RNAi) is a propitious gene regulatory approach that plays a significant role in crop improvement by permitting down-regulation of gene expression by small molecules of interfering RNA without affecting the expression of other genes. Gene editing technologies viz. clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) have appeared prominently as a powerful tool for precise targeted modification of nearly all crops genome sequence to generate variation and accelerate breeding efforts. In this regard, the review highlights the diverse roles and applications of RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 system as powerful technologies to improve agronomically important plants to enhance crop yields and increase tolerance to environmental stress (biotic or abiotic). Ultimately, these technologies can prove to be important in view of global food security and sustainable agriculture.

Keywords

Crop, CRISPR/Cas9; Resistance; RNA interference; Stress

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.