Genetic engineering in developing drought tolerance maize and its new prospects

Huỳnh Thị Thu Huệ, Nguyễn Thùy Linh, Nguyễn Hải Hà
Author affiliations

Authors

  • Huỳnh Thị Thu Huệ Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
  • Nguyễn Thùy Linh Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
  • Nguyễn Hải Hà Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/1811-4989/16/1/9317

Keywords:

CRISPR/Cas9, gene editing, genetic engineering, gene transformation, maize

Abstract

Maize is one of the most important cereals in human civilization. However, the productivity of crops has been being adversely affected by increasing droughts as a consequence of the global climate change. Recently, the yield and production of a number of maize growing regions witnessed a significant decrease due to continuously droughts. To minimize the impacts of the water-shortage condition, many measures have been taken. Among them, genetic engineering helps enhance plant survival by transferring drought-tolerance related genes into maize. Hundreds of drought-responsive genes from maize or other species have been isolated and characterized. Those genes encode transcription factors and proteins involving in signal transduction pathways as well as cell protection mechanisms. However, in order to highly and precisely express interested genes in transgenic maize, it is necessary to modify genes by using proper codon usage frequency, adding signals of post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational regulations. Additionally, other components of transformation process such as vector systems, promoters, gene delivery procedures, etc. are required to be optimized. Results from drought-tolerant trait related studies which has been being heavily invested in are worth the effort. Recently, new genetic engineering approaches known as genome editing are being accomplished and applied to a wide range of species. The advanced techniques including ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas9 hold enormous potential for drought-tolerant crop development. It is believed that in the near future, genome-edited based cultivars are more elite than traditional ones.

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Published

17-12-2018

How to Cite

Thu Huệ, H. T., Linh, N. T., & Hà, N. H. (2018). Genetic engineering in developing drought tolerance maize and its new prospects. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology, 16(1), 19–43. https://doi.org/10.15625/1811-4989/16/1/9317

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