APPLICATIONS OF THE CRISPR/CAS9 TECHNIQUE IN MAIZE AND WHEAT BREEDING

Abstract

Maize and wheat are some of the world's most important food crops, so their breeding programs are important for global food security. Genome editing techniques (the latest advancement in genetics) are not replacements for conventional breeding techniques, they are new methods and innovative, which promote agricultural crop breeding programs and offers unprecedented solutions to food insecurity. Among these techniques, CRISPR-Cas9 is considered a more effective tool for genome editing due to its low cost and simplicity. This paper summarizes recent applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 technique in maize and wheat breeding. The implementation of this technique allows the production of non-transgenic crops with high yield under different environmental stresses promoting sustainable agriculture.