Genome editing opens a new era of genetic improvement in polyploid crops

摘要

Sequence-specific nucleases (SSN) that generate double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) in genes of interest are the key to site-specific genome editing in plants.Genome editing has developed into one method of reducing undesirable traits in crops by the induction of knockout mutations.Different SSN-mediated genome-editing systems,including LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases or meganucleases,zinc-finger nucleases,transcription activator-like effector nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,are emerging as robust tools for introducing functional mutations in polyploid crops including citrus,wheat,cotton,soybean,rapeseed,potato,grapes,Camelina sativa,dandelion,and tobacco.The approach utilizes knowledge of biological mechanisms for targeted induction of DSBs and their error-prone repair,allowing highly specific changes at designated genome loci.In this review,we briefly describe genome-editing technologies and their application to genetic improvement of polyploid crops.