Genome Editing in Plants: Novel Approaches and Emerging Challenges

Plant genome editing has rapidly emerged as a transformative field with tremendous potential for revolutionizing agriculture through advanced crop improvement strategies and detailed gene-function studies. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has notably enhanced the precision with which researchers perform genome and epigenome editing, enabling the targeted knock-out of genes, creation of novel alleles and epialleles, and detailed functional demonstrations. However, wide-scale implementation of genome editing technologies is presently hindered by significant challenges such as the lack of standardized methodologies across diverse plant species, successful integration and removal of editing constructs, and the time-consuming nature of stable transformation processes.

Recent advancements have demonstrated substantial progress in the efficiency and specificity of editing techniques, including novel CRISPR variants and fusion-protein-based epigenetic modifications tailored for specific applications. Multiplex genome editing methods have facilitated simultaneous modifications of multiple loci within the genome, greatly accelerating breeding processes and the functional characterization of genes. Despite these advances, important concerns persist, particularly regarding the accurate detection and reduction of off-target mutations, optimization of transformation vectors, and strategies for transient expression to avoid cumbersome multi-generational approaches. Notably, the identification and functional characterization of novel genes from underexplored plant resources and their subsequent editing hold immense potential, yet these practices remain comparatively underrepresented in current literature.

This Research Topic aims to showcase recent scientific breakthroughs and explore strategies addressing existing challenges in precision genome and epigenome editing of plants. The key objectives include highlighting the latest methodologies, discussing regulatory and technical hurdles, and examining innovative approaches toward effective genome/epigenome modification across a diversity of plant systems.

To gather further insights in genome and epigenome editing methods in diverse plant species, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Functional characterization and editing approaches for novel genes isolated from plant resources, including elaborated molecular screening procedures
• Advances and technical challenges in applying genome editing for diverse crop improvements, with a focus on novel and understudied crops
• Recent developments and future directions in plant epigenome editing strategies
• Novel methods aiming at effectively reducing off-target editing events and minimizing plant generation intervals
• Innovative examples and methodologies for multiplex genome editing within plant systems
• Reporting refined technologies for genome and epigenome manipulation, covering the latest improvements in editing tools and transient vector-based expression techniques

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews and opinion papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, Plant Genome Editing, Epigenome Editing, Multiplex Editing, Crop Improvement, Off-target Mutations, Transformation Efficiency, Functional Gene Characterization, Novel Alleles and Epialleles, Transient Expression Vectors

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.