Plant Genetic Engineering: Technological Pathways, Application Scenarios, and Future Directions.
Wang P, Wang W, Wang D, Wu Q, Que Y
Crop Improvement
The tomatoes, wheat, and rice that stock your grocery shelves could soon be engineered to survive hotter, drier summers and deliver more vitamins — without decades of slow traditional breeding.
Researchers reviewed the full toolkit scientists now use to rewrite plant DNA with precision, covering everything from changing how a plant grows and branches to boosting its ability to survive droughts or resist pests. They also showed how these tools can make crops more nutritious and better-tasting. The review lays out a vision for the next wave of advances, including editing multiple genes at once and tapping into the genetic diversity locked inside wild plant relatives.
Key Findings
Genetic engineering can target specific genes controlling plant architecture — such as height, branching, and root structure — to improve light capture and prevent crops from falling over at harvest.
Engineered resistance to both biological threats (diseases, pests) and environmental stresses (drought, salinity, extreme temperatures) has been demonstrated across multiple crop species.
Future priorities identified include coordinated multi-gene editing, integration of wild germplasm diversity, and controllable epigenetic regulation to fine-tune traits without permanent DNA changes.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists have mapped out how genetic engineering can transform crops — making them more drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, nutritious, and higher-yielding — and charted the roadmap for where this technology is heading next.
Abstract Preview
As for sustainable food security, plant genetic engineering has emerged as a transformative technology offering innovative solutions. This review comprehensively examines recent advances in plant g...
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