Exploring CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Applications for Enhancing Disease Resistance in Sugar Beet

Abstract

Sugar beet, an important sugar crop utilized for the production of beet sugar, fulfills the world’s sugar demands to about 25%, accompanying cane sugar. The production of sugar beet encounters significant challenges attributed to devastating diseases that result in a decreased crop yield. Disease-resistant varieties are key to mitigating productivity losses traditionally developed through conventional breeding. However, the advent of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has accelerated the creation of resistant sugar beet varieties by enabling precise genetic modifications. This advanced technology offers an effective approach to combat bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, leading to the development of sugar beet varieties with varying degrees of resistance. The paper elucidates the revolutionary impact of CRISPR/Cas9 on sugar beet, revealing essential regulators of disease resistance and providing insights into interactions with pathogens and the sugar beet microbiome. The integration of CRISPR/Cas9 with other techniques opens novel avenues for understanding and developing disease-resistant sugar beet varieties, marking a significant advancement in the field.