Wheat’s up with CRISPR-Cas—Current Advances, Obstacles and Perspectives

The emergence of CRISPR-Cas editing systems—comprising clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated Cas proteins—marked a breakthrough in genetic engineering, owing to the simplicity, efficiency, and adaptability of the method. Despite continuous improvements and the incorporation of innovative discoveries to develop reliable, fine-tuned tools, the effective application of CRISPR-Cas technology in cereals remains challenging. This review provides a technically oriented overview of CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the world’s fundamental crops. While focusing on established solutions and progressive methodological modifications, we also discuss pertinent topics, including plant genetic transformation, prospective innovations, and compliance considerations.