Advances in understanding plant senescence regulation using CRISPR/Cas technology

CRISPR-Cas insights into plant senescence regulation

Abstract

Leaf senescence marks the final stage of leaf development, and is governed by a genetically controlled process that is crucial for nutrient recycling and overall plant health. However, the premature onset of this process can negatively affect crop yield and produce quality. This study explores the critical role of CRISPR -Cas genome editing in understanding the complex regulatory pathways that control plant senescence. CRISPR-based studies have enabled profound functional insights into the main senescence-associated genes (SAGs), including transcription factors, elements of hormone signalling pathways (ethylene, jasmonate, and abscisic acid) and genes that interact with chlorophyll catabolism, autophagy and nutrient remobilisation. CRISPR has, therefore, become valuable for breeding crop species. Moreover, applications of CRISPR have revealed an array of regulatory pathways, highlighting the role of nuclear architecture proteins, peptide signalling pathways and epigenetic regulators in senescence regulation. This review compiles the studies that used CRISPR technology to understand the regulation of plant senescence. The study also opens new paths for gene manipulation, including precise promoter editing methods, multiplexed gene targeting and the incorporation of multi-omics technologies that could outperform the traditional methods