Development and prospect of gene-edited fruits and vegetables

Abstract

Abstract As global climate change progresses and the demand for nutritional value in food increases, new challenges have been posed for the cultivation of grains, fruits, and vegetables and the functionality of food. Traditional breeding combined with hybridization enhances grain yield, boosts fruit and vegetable production, and augments the beneficial components of food. However, these approaches fail to satisfy the diverse requirements. Gene-editing technology offers new tools like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), enabling precise modifications of plant or animal genes to enhance their characteristics. Gene-edited foods offer numerous advantages, such as increased crop yields, improved nutritional value, enhanced stress resistance, and disease resistance. However, promoting genetically edited food faces several challenges, such as safety research, international regulatory differences, and public perception and acceptance. To achieve widespread application of gene-edited food, strengthening safety research, harmonizing international regulations, and raising public awareness are essential. This review highlights the development of gene-editing technology and its application in fruits and vegetables, reviews the legal regulations and attitudes of different countries towards gene-edited food, and provides perspectives on the future of gene-edited food.