Exploring CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Applications for Enhancing Disease Resistance in Sugar Beet

Abstract

Sugar beet, an important sugar crop utilized for the production of beet sugar, fulfills the world's sugar demands to about 25%, accompanying cane sugar. The production of sugar beet encounters significant challenges attributed to devastating diseases that result in a decreased crop yield. Disease-resistant varieties are key to mitigating productivity losses traditionally developed through conventional breeding. However, the advent of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has accelerated the creation of resistant sugar beet varieties by enabling precise genetic modifications. This advanced technology offers an effective approach to combat bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, leading to the development of sugar beet varieties with varying degrees of resistance. The paper elucidates the revolutionary impact of CRISPR/Cas9 on sugar beet, revealing essential regulators of disease resistance and providing insights into interactions with pathogens and the sugar beet microbiome. The integration of CRISPR/Cas9 with other techniques opens novel avenues for understanding and developing disease-resistant sugar beet varieties, marking a significant advancement in the field.

Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding for Global Food Security

“…Several articles highlight the advances in plant biotechnology and their applications in addressing climate change and food security. Misra et al contend that the advent of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has significantly accelerated the creation of resistant sugar beet varieties by facilitating precise genetic modifications. This work elucidates the revolutionary impact of CRISPR/Cas9 on sugar beet cultivation, reveals crucial regulators of disease resistance, and provides insights into interactions of pathogens and the sugar beet microbiome.…”

“…In summary, plant biotechnology and molecular breeding strategies, such as transgenic technology/genetic transformation, gene editing, , marker-assisted selection, , and synthetic biology, have advanced over the past decades and play an important role in breeding improved crop varieties, thereby contributing to a sustainable agriculture and global food security. ,, In the future, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning, biosensing and smart agriculture, efficient use of sunlight, factory farming, and digital agriculture will further revolutionize plant breeding and field production. Integrating these cutting-edge technologies into breeding pipelines will be pivotal in establishing a green, efficient, and cost-effective agri-food system.…”