Crispr-CAS9 mediated genome editing in plants against viruses: an updated review

The novel clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated nuclease 9 (Cas9 method is one of the key tool for the modification of plant genome against biotic stress. Viruses inflict a greater extent of losses to crop yields in the form of destructive diseases. Conventional approaches of augmenting disease resistance are rendered ineffective by ever evolving viruses. Moreover, the relatively advanced CRISPR/ Cas9 system is a quick and efficient method to confer resistance to plants against a broad range of viruses. CRISPR/Cas9 precisely alters the host genome against specific virus. However the mutation rate and tolerance response vary with type of plant species and with use of different methods as well as the targeting sites. Several researchers used this system against both RNA and DNA types of viruses. Here, we discussed the advantages of CRISPR-Cas9 technique in plants against different types of viruses. The present review will be useful to scientists to understand the range of options offered by this technology for enhancing resistance in economically important plant species against multiple viruses. (author)