Hongli Ma

College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China
Author    Correspondence author
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

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.

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)

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.

CRISPR/Cas9; Rice breeding; Genetic editing; Yield improvement; Agricultural biotechnology