As climate change increasingly continues to affect agricultural production, the demand
for novel sources of resistance genes is becoming more urgent. Genome editing
technologies offer a highly precise alternative to conventional plant breeding
techniques, enabling targeted modifications at the genomic level. Among these, the
CRISPR/Cas9 system and its derivative technologies have surpassed earlier genome
editing methods, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like
effector nucleases (TALENs), in terms of efficiency, precision and ease of application.
Genome editing facilitates genetic modifications mainly through gene silencing, which
may occur from frameshift mutations due to errors in DNA repair pathways or through
the precise replacement of existing sequences with altered variants. However, advances
in genome editing technologies are expanding the range of possible genetic
modifications. This thesis examines the fundamental principles and key methodologies
of genome editing, with a particular emphasis on the CRISPR/Cas9 system. It also
explores the mechanisms controlling plant responses to drought and heat stress and
presents case studies demonstrating the application of genome editing to enhance
drought and heat stress tolerance. Additionally, the broader societal implications and
acceptability of genetically modified and genome-edited crops are briefly discussed,
including their role in sustainable agriculture, regulatory constraints within the
European Union and potential policy changes. Despite existing challenges, genome
editing represents one of the most powerful tools for developing stress-resilient crop
genotypes, which will be crucial for ensuring agricultural sustainability and global food
security in the face of climate change.
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