Genetic Modification for Wheat Improvement: From Transgenesis to Genome Editing

Abstract

To feed the growing human population, global wheat yields should increase to approximately 5 tonnes per ha from the current 3.3 tonnes by 2050. To reach this goal, existing breeding practices must be complemented with new techniques built upon recent gains from wheat genome sequencing, and the accumulated knowledge of genetic determinants underlying the agricultural traits responsible for crop yield and quality. In this review we primarily focus on the tools and techniques available for accessing gene functions which lead to clear phenotypes in wheat. We provide a view of the development of wheat transformation techniques from a historical perspective, and summarize how techniques have been adapted to obtain gain-of-function phenotypes by gene overexpression, loss-of-function phenotypes by expressing antisense RNAs (RNA interference or RNAi), and most recently the manipulation of gene structure and expression using site-specific nucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas9, for genome editing. The review summarizes recent successes in the application of wheat genetic manipulation to increase yield, improve nutritional and health-promoting qualities in wheat, and enhance the crop’s resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses.

Genetic diversity of gliadin-coding alleles in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from Northern Kazakhstan

“…The application of molecular markers was successful in the study of wheat genes controlling such traits as 1,000-grain weight, protein and gluten content (Zhang et al, 2018), grain hardness (Nirmal et al, 2016), flour production from grain milling (Nirmal et al, 2017), and bread quality (Henry, Furtado & Rangan, 2018). Genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology represents a novel method in plants (Khlestkina & Shumny, 2016; Liang et al, 2018; Borisjuk et al, 2019), for production of wheat with low gluten content (Sánchez-León et al, 2018), as required by people allergic to some components of gliadin in traditional wheat cultivars (Palosuo et al, 2001; Pastorello et al, 2007).…”

Applications of CRISPR technology in studying plant-pathogen interactions: overview and perspective

“…Gene loss-of-function mutants and gain-of-function germplasms are important resources for gene function studies and crop genetic improvements (Borisjuk et al 2019). In recent years, genome-editing (GE) technologies with homing endonucleases (Meganucleases), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALE Ns) and newly-emerged CRISPR/Cas systems, which enable precise DNA modification of the genome, have greatly transformed the researches on plants (Gaj et al 2016).…”

Gene editing applications to modulate crop flowering time and seed dormancy

“…Supplementing traditional breeding and selection with new genome manipulation technologies, such as plant transformation and (more recently) targeted genome editing, could substantially accelerate crop improvement (Borisjuk et al 2019;Chen et al 2019). Genome editing using specific targeted nucleases is a relatively young, burgeoning technology that is rapidly becoming an integral part of research and development in many areas of life science.…”

“…A variety of comprehensive, recent reviews have focused on advances in gene editing technologies (Razzaq et al 2019;Bilichak et al 2020;Gürel et al 2020;Hahn et al 2020;He and Zhao 2020;Hsieh-Feng and Yang 2020;Li and Xia 2020), and the application of these techniques to select crops such as rice (Oryza sativa, Biswal et al 2019), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum; Borisjuk et al 2019;Kumar et al 2019;Hensel 2020), maize (Zea mays; Agarwal et al 2018,), soybean (Glycine max; Bao et al 2020), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; Char and Yang 2020), and the improvement of certain traits, such as abiotic stress tolerance (Abdelrahman et al 2018), disease resistance (Zaidi et al 2016;Borrelli et al 2018;Bisht et al 2019), and grain quality (Fiaz et al 2019).…”