Sustainable agricultural production faces many challenges, including viral attacks that significantly affect the quality and quantity of the crop. In the search for possible solutions, technologies based on RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas have emerged. RNA interference is a mechanism that cuts (viral) double-stranded RNA and thus disables the virus's reproduction, while CRISPR/Cas can induce mutations in the susceptibility genes of the host plant, thereby eliminating the virus target, or vaccinate viral DNA or RNA. The most promising technology is undoubtedly SIGS, which operates on the basis of RNA interference. It is a non-transgenic method that is also cost-effective, but the uptake or entry of these molecules into plant cells and the stability of small RNAs after surface application to plants need to be optimized. Nanocarriers, which can protect small RNAs and allow entry into cells due to their small size, are helpful in this regard. However, the selection of harmless nanocarriers that do not cause toxic effects on plants and the environment will be necessary before commercialization. It is expected that the repertoire of small RNAs will expand in the future, with artificial microRNAs and trans-acting siRNAs showing much promise at the moment.
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