Genome editing is a novel targeted genome modification biotechnology, which could successfully mutate specific loci as well as generate gene replacement and insertion in various organisms. So far, genome editing technology has been widely applied in investigating gene function and developing valuable traits in both model plants and major crops. In this review, we briefly survey the historical development of genome editing technology, summarize recent progress using the CRISPR/Cas9 system for plant genome editing and explore the potential of the CRISPR/Cas technology in improving forage legumes.
基因编辑是对生物基因组进行靶向修饰的一项新型生物技术，可以在不同物种中实现对目标基因的定点敲除、基因片段置换以及基因定点插入等基因定向编辑，目前基因编辑技术已在植物基因功能解析和作物遗传改良研究中得到广泛应用。本文简要回顾基因编辑技术的发展历程，重点介绍新近发展的CRISPR/Cas9技术在植物中的研究进展，并对CRISPR/Cas 基因编辑技术在苜蓿等饲草作物中的应用进行探讨和展望。.
Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Medicago; forage legumes; genome editing.