Application of CRISPR/Cas system in optimizing nutrients and anti-nutrients content in fruits

Abstract

From time immemorial, fruits are taken by human as staple food which are rich in nutrients like vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, dietary fibres and many other nutrients which are mainly secondary metabolites that have pharmaceutical potentials and can combat many diseases like cardiovascular disease, hypertension etc. and can also act as antioxidants. People are cultivating fruit plants for fulfilling their need as food, or for increasing commercial value. Conventional breeding technologies are highly laborious and complicated so researchers are discovering targeted genome editing technologies which are efficient, faster and cost effective. In recent years, research into gene editing using sequence-specific nucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoproteins, has drawn invaluable attention in plant science and it has greatly advanced the breeding for plants due to its simplicity and high efficiency. In this review, we are discussing the CRISPR/Cas technology, its application in fruits to optimize the nutrient and antinutrient content, bottlenecks, and future prospects. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2023.