An insight into the journey of CRISPR-CAS9 and its application in crop improvement

Abstract The CRISPR-Cas9 technology innovation has revolutionized the practice of genetic engineering, particularly in crop improvement, by allowing unprecedented precision and efficiency. This review provides a thorough overview of CRISPR-Cas9 discovery and utilization in crop characteristic enhancement, with particular focus on rice genetics. We begin with a concise overview of its discovery and technical development before describing how CRISPR-Cas9 has been used to improve major agricultural traits such as disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, yield enhancement, and nutritional improvement. We also discuss its potential to propel the development of drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutrient enrichment of rice and demonstrate its revolutionizing potential in modern agriculture. Along with its benefits, this review also addresses major challenges of CRISPR-Cas9, including off-target mutations, regulatory challenges, and public opinion. In addition, we present future directions of CRISPR-Cas9, including multi-trait genome editing, improved delivery mechanisms, and cross-technology integration with other genomic tools. By synthesizing current work and pushing forward innovations, this review presents the tremendous potential of CRISPR-Cas9 to revolutionize plant breeding and contribute to sustainable agriculture solutions to world food security.