PubMed · 2026-04-16
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.
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.
