Current status, challenges, and future prospects of plant genome editing in China

Genome editing (GE) is the most powerful tool for creating genetic variation in plants. This approach is valuable for studying the mechanism of gene function and regulation as well as to improve desirable traits using sequence-specific endonucleases. It is typically performed with diverse molecular scissors that cleave a particular gene at a defined position. The advent of sequence-specific nucleases such as ZFNs (zinc finger nucleases), TALENs (transcription activator-like effector nucleases), and CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), in particular, have allowed for the precise and efficient introduction of genetic variation into the genome. The newly developed CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) variants, base-editing systems, novel RNA-directed nucleases, and DNA-free CRISPR/Cas9 delivery methods offer great opportunities for plant genome engineering. China has made tremendous progress in the field of GE for crop improvement to meet the demand of growing population. Herein, we reviewed the recent progress in GE of different crops in China, highlighting advanced GE tools/methods, and also discussed the specific challenges and prospects of plant GE.