Jin Zhou , Kaiwen Liang

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0027
Received: 05 Sep., 2024    Accepted: 06 Oct., 2024    Published: 17 Oct., 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.

Zhou J., and Liang K.W., 2024, Genetic engineering in maize breeding: enhancing global food security and sustainability, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(5): 282-294 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0027)

With increasing challenges such as climate change, pest pressure and the need to improve nutrient content, traditional breeding methods face limitations. Genetic engineering offers promising solutions through precise gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 and transgenic technologies, enabling the development of corn varieties with higher yields, resistance to biological and abiotic stresses, and enhanced nutritional status. This study aims to explore the transformative potential of genetic engineering in future maize breeding, and the findings show that significant progress has been made in creating drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and nutrient-rich maize through genetic modification, and that genetic engineering, combined with traditional breeding and molecular tools, will play a key role in meeting future food security needs and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Genetic engineering; Maize breeding; CRISPR-Cas9; Transgenic technologies; Sustainable agriculture; Food security