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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2016, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 227-242.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.15-327

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The application of genome editing in identification of plant gene function and crop breeding

Xiangchun Zhou1, Yongzhong Xing1, 2   

  1. 1. National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    2. Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, Jingzhou 434025, China
  • Received:2015-07-20 Revised:2016-01-04 Online:2016-03-20 Published:2016-03-20
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No; 2012 AA10A303) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No; 91335201)

Abstract: Plant genome can be modified via current biotechnology with high specificity and excellent efficiency. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) system are the key engineered nucleases used in the genome editing. Genome editing techniques enable gene targeted mutagenesis, gene knock-out, gene insertion or replacement at the target sites during the endogenous DNA repair process, including non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR), triggered by the induction of DNA double-strand break (DSB). Genome editing has been successfully applied in the genome modification of diverse plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Nicotiana tabacum. In this review, we summarize the application of genome editing in identification of plant gene function and crop breeding. Moreover, we also discuss the improving points of genome editing in crop precision genetic improvement for further study.

Key words: genome editing, ZFN, TALEN, CRISPR/Cas9, identification, crop breeding