New genomic techniques for horticultural crop improvement

Crop breeding is essential for developing improved varieties to meet the demands of growers and consumers while adapting to changing environmental conditions and regulatory constraints, such as the phase-out of key crop protection products.
While traditional breeding techniques have significantly contributed to crop improvement, they face limitations, particularly in crops with complex genomes, high heterozygosity, or self-incompatibility.
New genomic techniques (NGTs), including gene editing and cisgenesis, present potential solutions to these breeding challenges.
They facilitate the development of modified variants of elite cultivars without the introduction of foreign DNA, aligning with current regulatory requirements.
NGTs have for example the potential to enhance disease resistance, improve yield, and introduce novel ornamental traits.
Nonetheless, critical hurdles remain, including efficient DNA delivery techniques and the removal of transgenic elements used during the editing process.
This review explores various NGT methods and their applications, highlighting both their potential and their limitations.

International Symposium on Biotechnological Tools in Horticulture

J. Schaart, A. Lukasiewicz, M. Juranić

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1454.1