Biotechnological Improvement of Fiber Crops: Role of In Vitro Culture, Genetic Transformation, and Genome Editing.
Ceasar SA, Pandey H, Misra V, Sharma A, Kumar R
Crispr
PubMedCotton in your jeans, linen on your table, and hemp in your bag could soon be grown with far less pesticide and survive hotter, drier summers because scientists are now precisely editing the genes that make these plants tough.
Researchers are using cutting-edge tools to improve plants we rely on for fabrics and natural fibers—like cotton, flax, and hemp. One approach grows plants from single cells in a lab to create ultra-uniform, stronger varieties. Another uses a molecular 'scissors' tool called CRISPR to snip out or adjust specific genes, allowing breeders to target exact traits like fiber strength or disease resistance without years of traditional crossbreeding.
Key Findings
In vitro regeneration (lab-based plant regrowth) has been successfully applied to at least six fiber crops: cotton, jute, mesta, flax, sunn hemp, and industrial hemp.
Anther culture techniques have produced doubled haploid plant lines with improved fiber quality and uniformity, compressing breeding timelines significantly.
CRISPR/Cas genome editing is emerging as a targeted tool for trait improvement in fiber crops, moving beyond conventional genetic transformation toward precise, single-gene modifications.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists are using advanced lab techniques—including CRISPR gene editing and tissue culture—to breed tougher, higher-quality fiber crops like cotton, flax, and hemp, helping these plants withstand climate stress and pests while producing better fibers and oils.
Abstract Preview
Fiber crops face major challenges from climate instability, pests, and suboptimal fiber or oil quality. These challenges can be addressed using plant tissue culture and molecular breeding tools, in...
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