Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System to Reduce the Pre- and Post-Harvest Yield Losses in Cereals

Abstract

Cereals are an important source of food for millions of people across low-middle-income countries. Cereals are considered a staple food for poor people. The majority of the people are depending upon agricultural occupation. Agriculture provides a primary source of income for many farmers in low-middle-income countries. The pre- and post-harvest loss of crop yield affects farmers and is a major problem in achieving food security. Biotic and abiotic factors cause pre- and post-harvest loss of crop yield worldwide. It significantly affects the economic status of farmers as well as low-middle-income countries. Many advanced technologies are available for resolving the pre- and post-harvest loss of crop yield. The past few decades have seen remarkable progress in crop improvement. Especially high-throughput genome sequencing approaches contributed to advancement in the crop improvement. Genome-editing has also been considered a key tool for crop improvement. The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has become a potent genome editing system for modifying key traits in cereal crops. CRISPR/Cas9 system offers new opportunities for addressing pre-and post-harvest constraints affecting cereal grain production and storage. In this review, we discuss the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to reduce pre-and post-harvest yield loss in cereal crops. It may promote the economic status of farmers and reduce food demand in the coming decades.