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Recent Advances in Genome Editing Strategies for Balancing Growth and Defense in Sugarcane

Maira Tanveer Tanveer , Zain Abidin, Hussam F. Najeeb Alawadi, Ahmad Naeem Shahzad, Athar Mahmood , Bilal Ahmad Khan, Sameer Qari, Hesham Oraby

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) has gained more attention worldwide in the last few decades because of its greater importance as a bioenergy resource and in producing table sugar. However, the production capabilities of conventional varieties are being challenged by the changing climates, which struggle to meet the escalating demands of the growing global population. Genome editing has emerged as a pivotal field that offers groundbreaking solutions in agriculture and beyond. It includes inserting, removing, or replacing DNA in an organism's genome. Various approaches are employed to enhance crop yields and resilience in harsh climates. These techniques include Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated protein (CRISPR/Cas). Among these, CRISPR/Cas is one of the most promising and rapidly advancing fields. With the help of these techniques, several crops like rice, tomato, maize, barley, and sugarcane have been improved to be resistant to viral diseases. This review describes recent advances in genome editing with a particular focus on sugarcane and focuses on the advantages and limitations of these approaches while also considering the regulatory and ethical implications across different countries. It also offers insights into future prospects and the application of these approaches in agriculture.

FP24036  Accepted 14 April 2024

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