Genome editing is rapidly transforming plant research. The technique offers unparalleled precision in breeding without the need to introduce foreign DNA into plants. CRISPR/Cas systems have established themselves as the leading technique in genome editing.
Genome editing for precision crop breeding takes stock of the wealth of research on these techniques and their potential in crop breeding. Chapters in this volume review advances in techniques such as TALENS and zinc finger nucleases, double-strand break repair techniques, insertion-based genome edits, base editing, guide RNAs and gRNA/Cas9 constructs. This collection also surveys applications of gene editing in improving key traits in key cereal crops including barley, maize and sorghum as well as brassicas, tomatoes and perennials.
With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, Genome editing for precision crop breeding will be a standard reference for university and other researchers involved in crop breeding, government and other agencies involved in regulating advances in crop breeding (such as genetic modification), crop breeding companies and farmers interested in the latest breeding techniques.
Dr Matthew R. Willmann was Director of the CALS Plant Transformation Facility (PTF) at Cornell University, USA from 2016-2021. The Facility produces transgenic and CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited plants, and develops improved transformation and genome editing techniques. With over 25 years of experience in plant science research, Dr Willmann has published widely in such areas as gene editing and is on the editorial boards of The CRISPR Journal and Frontiers in Genome Editing: Genome Editing in Plants, which promote research in this important and growing area. Dr Willmann joined the plant biotech company Pairwise as Delivery Technology Lead in early 2021.
Piero Barone received his PhD from the University of Perugia, Italy in 2002 where he worked on the cytological and molecular characterization of a female sterility trait in alfalfa (M. sativa L.). In 2014 he joined the Monocot Transformation Team at Dow AgroSciences where he worked on multiple trait discovery projects for the evaluation in maize of new mode of action for the below ground product concept. In his role he also managed transformation programs to support various technology development projects using the Zinc Finger gene targeting tool. In 2018 he relocated to Johnston where he joined the Molecular Engineering group at Corteva Agriscience leading the transformation activities for the genome editing technology development in maize.
Dr Andika Gunadi is a Researcher in Plant Genetics and Genetic Regulation at the Boyce Thompson Institute, USA. He's currently working on applying novel transformation and CRISPR approaches in plants.
