Perspective Chapter: Major Insights into CRISPR-Cas9 in Edible Oilseeds Research

Abstract

Edible oilseeds significantly contribute to human nutrition and health. However, the production and consumption of edible oilseeds are facing several challenges, such as limited land and water resources, stress factors, and the quality of edible oils. Owing to its precision and versatility, the technology of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 has emerged as a vital tool in the field of oilseed research. CRISPR-Cas9 simplifies the process, allowing scientists to tailor oilseed crops more precisely for industrial applications, nutritional purposes, yield and quality, and stress tolerance. In particular, this technology is playing a crucial role in modifying the fatty acid composition in oilseed crops, addressing industry demands, and is eventually promoting sustainable agriculture. Interestingly, the focus on increasing fatty acid composition is significant for meeting the diverse needs of both industries and consumers. Taking into account relevant literature, this chapter overviews CRISPR-Cas9 system, discusses the major insights into recent applications and achievements of CRISPR-Cas9 in edible oilseed research, addresses the major challenges and proposing solutions for CRISPR/Cas9 editing applications in edible oilseed research, and suggests the themes, so far least explored in the current context.