CRISPR/Cas9 –based genome editing to expedite the genetic improvement of palms: challenges and prospects

Abstract

Palms encompass over 2,500 species, across 200 genera, ranking second only to grasses (Poaceae) and legumes (Fabaceae) in the realm of agricultural food production and industrial applications. The coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), arecanut (Areca catechu L.), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are among the economically significant perennial species within the Arecaceae family. Coconut, often referred to as the "tree of life," is celebrated for its diverse range of applications in food, nutrition, medicine, and various industrial uses (Ramesh et al., 2021). Coconut products encompass edible oil derived from the kernel or testa, tender coconut water, kernel, copra, coconut shell, coconut cake, wood-based products, coir pith, and items resulting from various valorization processes. The unopened spathe is tapped to extract inflorescence sap (neera), which can be further processed into jaggery, sugar, vinegar, and a variety of secondary products (Hebbar et al., 2022).Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) is a crop in tropical Asia and certain parts of East Africa. In India, it holds a prominent place as a major commercial crop and is also medically important, primarily grown in a few states of the country. Nevertheless, its commercial products are distributed throughout India, and the country undeniably leads in terms of both area under cultivation and production, accounting for 54% of the world's output. The fruit or nuts of the Areca catechu L. palm, commonly known as betel nut or supari, have a long history of use as a masticatory product by the Indian population, dating back to the Vedic period. As a result, arecanut is deeply intertwined with India's history and social heritage. On a global scale, the betel quid is used by as many as 600 million people in Asia alone.Date palm, on the other hand, thrives in arid regions such as Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, among others (Aljohi et al., 2016). In addition to its fruit, date palm seeds also serve as a novel source of edible oil, further expanding its industrial applications (Ali et al., 2015). Oil palm stands out as an economically vital palm species, supplying approximately 35% of the world's vegetable oil. The genetic improvement of oil palm could play a pivotal role in global nutritional security.