Fruit Crop Improvement with Genome Editing, In Vitro and Transgenic Approaches

Fruit species contribute to nutritional and health security by providing micronutrients, antioxidants, and bioactive phytoconstituents, and hence fruit-based products are becoming functional foods presently and for the future. Although conventional breeding methods have yielded improved varieties having fruit quality, aroma, antioxidants, yield, and nutritional traits, the threat of climate change and need for improvement in several other traits such as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and higher nutritional quality has demanded complementary novel strategies. Biotechnological research in fruit crops has offered immense scope for large-scale multiplication of elite clones, in vitro, mutagenesis, and genetic transformation. Advanced molecular methods, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), QTLomics, genomic selection for the development of novel germplasm having functional traits for agronomic and nutritional quality, and enrichment of bioactive constituents through metabolic pathway engineering and development of novel products, are now paving the way for trait-based improvement for developing genetically superior varieties in fruit plant species for enhanced nutritional quality and agronomic performance. In this article, we highlight the applications of in vitro and molecular breeding approaches for use in fruit breeding.

Automated summary

Fruit species are important for nutrition and health security as they provide micronutrients, antioxidants, and bioactive phytoconstituents, making fruit-based products functional foods for the present and future. Conventional breeding methods have improved fruit quality, aroma, antioxidants, yield, and nutritional traits, but climate change and other challenges require novel strategies. Biotechnological research in fruit crops offers opportunities for large-scale multiplication of elite clones, in vitro, mutagenesis, and genetic transformation. Advanced molecular methods, such as GWAS and genomic selection, are paving the way for trait-based improvement in fruit plant species for enhanced nutritional quality and agronomic performance.