Advances in Genetic Engineering for Disease Resistant Crops: A Review
Shakshi Singh *
Department of Plant Pathology, JNKVV, College of Agriculture, Powarkheda, Narmadapuram (M.P)-461110, India.
Sarmistha Sahoo
Department of Plant Pathology, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.
Rashmi Mohapatra
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge on Herbal Medicines and Therapeutics, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751024, India.
Chandan Kumar Panigrahi
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar - 751029 Odisha, India.
Gurumayum Robert Daniel
Department of Plant Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Udhyanikee Evam Vanikee Vishwavidyalaya, Durg, Chhattisgarh, India.
S. Arunkumar
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Asian College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, India.
Lipikant Sahoo
Department of Plant Pathology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Deepali Mohapatra
Department of Plant Pathology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Plant diseases continue to pose a substantial threat to global agriculture, causing significant yield losses and compromising food security. Traditional breeding methods, though valuable, face limitations in speed, precision, and durability of resistance. Advances in genetic engineering have revolutionized crop protection strategies, offering powerful tools to develop disease-resistant cultivars with greater accuracy and efficiency. CRISPR/Cas systems have emerged as a leading platform for targeted genome editing, enabling the knockout of susceptibility genes, fine-tuned base and prime editing, and multiplex editing for broad-spectrum and durable resistance. Transgenic approaches involving overexpression of R genes, antimicrobial peptides, and RNA interference constructs have provided enhanced resistance to fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. The integration of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics through genome-wide association studies and systems biology has facilitated the discovery and deployment of novel resistance genes. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including technical difficulties in editing complex genomes, off-target effects, rapid pathogen evolution, and socio-economic and policy constraints that limit widespread adoption. Future innovations in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, pan-genomics, and microbiome-assisted breeding are expanding the frontiers of crop immunity engineering. These next-generation strategies promise to develop more resilient plant systems capable of responding dynamically to diverse pathogen pressures. Regulatory harmonization, public awareness, and investment in research infrastructure are crucial to support the transition from laboratory research to field application.
Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, disease resistance, transgenic crops, RNA interference, omics integration, synthetic biology