Technological advancements in the CRISPR toolbox for improving plant salt tolerance

Soil salinity is a major threat to global agriculture, limiting plant growth and lowering crop yields. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology provide unprecedented precision and efficiency for addressing these challenges by directly modifying the central dogma (CD) of molecular biology in plants. The CD naturally lends itself to tighter multi-level regulation, where transcription and translation are both under control at the same time. A multilayer component of CD such as epigenetic modification, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, and post-translational modification contributes significantly to stress tolerance. Strict control of CD components by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) might lead to the generation of climate smart crops. This review delves into the latest developments in the CRISPR toolbox that improve plant salt tolerance. By targeting key genes involved in transcription and translation, CRISPR/Cas9 makes it easier to modify critical components of the central dogma, allowing plants to better manage salt stress. We explore various CRISPR-based strategies, including base editing, prime editing, transcription regulation, multiplexing, RNA and many more, that reprogram gene expression and protein function to improve salt tolerance. In addition, we discuss how CRISPR can be combined with transcriptional regulation and epigenetic modifications to provide a comprehensive approach to salinity resistance for plants. The review also addresses the issues of off-target effects and efficient delivery systems, recommending novel solutions to improve the precision and applicability of CRISPR technology. This review emphasizes the transformative potential of CRISPR in modifying the central dogma to develop salt-tolerant crops, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and global food security.