Abstract

CARVAJAL-CAMPOS, Paula  and  JIMENEZ, Víctor M.. Genetic engineering against abiotic stress in Neotropical crop plants: osmolites, transcription factors and CRISPR/Cas9. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.2, pp.47-66.  Epub Feb 18, 2022. ISSN 0123-3475.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rev.colomb.biote.v23n2.88487.

The neotropics are the site of origin of a large variety of plants that are currently successfully cultivated in different regions of the world. However, adverse climatic conditions, which can be exacerbated by the effects of anthropogenic climate change, can affect their yield and productivity due to the abiotic stresses that can be generated. As an alternative to counteract these effects, genetic modifications have been experimentally implemented, particularly in genes related to osmolyte production and transcription factors, which have ultimately led to increased tolerance of these plants to oxidative stress, high and low temperatures and photoinhibition, drought and salinity, through the accumulation of osmoprotectants, regulation of gene expression and changes in phenotype. In this work, the methodological strategies proposed to these aims are presented and described, and they are complemented with examples of studies carried out in economically important crops of neotropical origin, such as corn, cotton, potato and tomato. In addition, and due to the novelty and potential that gene editing offers through the CRISPR/Cas9 system, works conducted in plants with neotropical origin, focused on understanding and implementing drought tolerance mechanisms, are also mentioned. The methodologies described here could become practical options to achieve food security in the frame of the adverse effects caused by anthropogenic climate change.

Keywords : cotton; climate change; maize; potato; tomato.

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