CRISPR/Cas-mediated Base Editing in Plants

The historical correlation between the growing global population and the availability of food has never been so stable that it can beat hunger needs. Base editing, a novel form of genome editing enabled by CRISPR/Cas systems, offers a precise method for manipulating plant genomes at the single-nucleotide level. This technique has revolutionized the field of plant biotechnology, allowing for targeted modifications that can lead to enhanced crop traits, disease resistance, and overall plant performance. Recent advances in this area have expanded the scope of editable genomic sites and improved the efficiency and specificity of base editors. The integration of CRISPR/Cas systems with plant biology not only paves the way for innovative agricultural solutions but also raises important considerations regarding biosafety, regulatory policies, and public acceptance. Diverse base-editing platforms have been developed by a combination of different deaminase and nuclease variants. With a selected nucleotide modification, base editing takes less time than conventional methods of creating transgenic and mutational breeds. This chapter covers the base editing mechanism, its problems, and illustrated applications, as well as methods to improve crop viability and prevent pathogen attacks.