Opportunities and synthetic biology in agricultural crops

Abstract

The development of several agronomically significant features in a variety of crops has been largely dependent on conventional breeding methods. The use of contemporary biotechnology techniques expanded and improved trait introduction and development beyond what was feasible with traditional breeding. However, biotic and abiotic conditions that need the production of more genetically complicated features than can be handled by classic genetic engineering or conventional breeding continue to pose challenges to agricultural yields. Therefore, when climate change increases the frequency of biotic and abiotic threats to food and fibre crops, more sophisticated trait development techniques are needed to maintain and enhance yields and production efficiency. Synthetic biology, or SynBio, includes methods for creating new biological components (such as cells, genetic circuits, and enzymes) or redesigning preexisting biological systems to provide new and enhanced functionality. Genetic engineering, which entails transferring individual genes from one creature to another, is "upgraded" by SynBio. Multiple genes, either synthetically created or taken from a foreign organism, may be introduced in a single transgenic event thanks to this method. Additionally, it may make it possible to create new genomes from scratch using a collection of standardised genetic components, which can then be inserted into the intended cell or creature. The introduction of new genes with known functions, artificial genetic variation, topical applications of small RNAs as pesticides, and possibly accelerating the production of new cultivars with elite traits are all new opportunities to advance breeding applications through the use of SynBio technology. The potential use of SynBio to increase agricultural yield and resilience to different obstacles will be shown in this review via case studies. Here, we describe particular ways to use the SynBio toolset to address issues including fungal diseases, insect pests, heat and drought stress, and nutrient uptake in a variety of significant crops.