4.8 Improving synthesis efficiencies and crop yield using CRISPR-Cas9

what are some traits and techniques that can be improved through the application of CRISPR-Cas9 ?

• photosynthetic efficiency

• crop yield

• crop quality

• biotic and abiotic stress resistance

• hybrid-breeding (two genetically different parent lines are produced).

• drought resistances

• pesticide/herbicide resistance

• modify enzymes (RuBisCO)

• increase nutrient content

What is photosynthetic efficiency

the proportion of light energy captured by a plant and converted into chemical energy (biomass)

how does crisper-cas9 improve photosynthetic efficiency?

• CRISPR-Cas9 used to improve the efficiency of Rubisco in carbon dioxide fixation by reducing its ability to bind to oxygen and undergo photorespiration, and instead improve its ability to associate with carbon dioxide.

• By reducing photorespiration and improving photosynthetic efficiency, crop yield from C₃ plants could be dramatically increased.

How does crisper improve the crop yield?

CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to target certain genes that impact crop yield; such as by inserting genes to improve yield or knocking out genes that have a negative effect.

How does crisper improve the quality of crops?

Genome editing via CRISPR-Cas9 has been used to alter the gluten and nutrient content, storage quality and visual appearance of crops.