CRISPR-Based Approaches for Improving Drought Tolerance in Crops

Abstract

Drought is a significant abiotic stress affecting agricultural production, posing a significant threat to global food security. Biotechnology offers stress-tolerant crops, but regulatory challenge persists. Genome editing technology is a promising approach for crop improvement, allowing precise and efficient modifications in genes regulating abscisic acid response, water-use efficiency, stress response, and root architecture. In this chapter, we explore the use of genome editing technologies to improve drought resistance by focusing on genes related to osmotic stress, stomatal conductance, and root morphology. Further, we highlight recent advances in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas-9-mediated modification of drought responsive pathways, including genes such as DREB, ABF, GT, and P5CS. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of transferring genomic improvements from model systems to field conditions, including issues related to gene stability, off-target effects, and regulatory frameworks. Genome-edited crops have the potential to mitigate the effects of drought under changing climatic conditions, while also offering opportunities for commercial deployment and long-term agricultural sustainability.