Improving abiotic stress tolerance of forage grasses – prospects of using genome editing

Abstract

Due to an increase in the consumption of food, feed, and fuel and to meet global food security needs for the rapidly growing human population, there is a necessity to obtain high-yielding crops that can adapt to future climate changes. Currently, the main feed source used for ruminant livestock production is forage grasses. In temperate climate zones, perennial grasses grown for feed are widely distributed and tend to suffer under unfavorable environmental conditions. Genome editing has been shown to be an effective tool for the development of abiotic stress-resistant plants. The highly versatile CRISPR-Cas system enables increasingly complex modifications in genomes while maintaining precision and low off-target frequency mutations. In this review, we provide an overview of forage grass species that have been subjected to genome editing. We offer a perspective view on the generation of plants resilient to abiotic stresses. Due to the broad factors contributing to these stresses the review focuses on drought, salt, heat, and cold stresses. The application of new genomic techniques (e.g., CRISPR-Cas) allows addressing several challenges caused by climate change and abiotic stresses for developing forage grass cultivars with improved adaptation to the future climatic conditions. Genome editing will contribute towards developing safe and sustainable food systems.

Differential biomass and nutrient accumulation in perennial ryegrass accessions under excess water treatment in field conditions during winter

“…Decrease in root aerobic respiration rates is one of the earliest responses of plants when under flooded conditions and could be used to select for phenotypes to better withstand flooding conditions (Colmer 2003). Modern breeding tools like genome editing may be also a way forward to improve very directed tolerance of species towards adverse environmental conditions (Sustek-Sánchez et al 2023).…”

Unveiling the Genetic Symphony: Harnessing CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing for Effective Insect Pest Management

“…Alternatively, HDR mechanisms can be activated to achieve precise gene alterations such as knock-outs, knock-ins, or mutations, provided that donor DNA templates are available and similar to the sequence surrounding the DSB site [38]. The HDR and NHEJ mechanisms have been utilized for genome editing in insects and plants [39]. The CRISPR-Cas construct is introduced into target cells using particle-bombardment-mediated transformation methods or Agrobacterium-mediated and into insect embryos using transfusion, microinjection, or electroporation-mediated transformation methods to generate transgenic species with desired traits [40].…”

Italian Ryegrass as a Forage Crop for the Baltics: Opportunities and Challenges in Light of Climate Change

“…However, in temperate regions, summer droughts are mild and do not compromise crop survival, which significantly affects productivity [25]. The modification of current farming systems or the development of new ones would allow us to maintain the profitability of pastures [26,27], where crop breeding can play a key role [28]. Studies of genotype x environment interactions could be used to identify optimal cultivars or species with the best adaptation and productivity in a given environment [29][30][31].…”