Written by METK's researchers, the chapter delves into the complex world of barley breeding and highlights the revolutionary role of new breeding techniques in increasing disease resistance, yield, and stability of barley.
According to Liina Jakobson, Senior Researcher in the Department of Plant Biotechnology at METK, new breeding techniques have an important role to play in the future. "The introduction of CRISPR-Cas has opened up unprecedented opportunities in barley breeding," said Jakobson. She added that the advantage of new breeding techniques is that the same end result can be achieved more quickly.
"CRISPR-Cas technology is a breakthrough because of its precision and speed in generating targeted mutations to switch off genes that have a negative impact on crop quality or increase susceptibility to pathogens," explained the chapter's co-author, senior researcher Lyudmilla Timofeyeva.
At METK, the Department of Plant Biotechnology - under the leadership of Jakobson - is conducting in-depth research into the potential application of new breeding techniques in barley breeding to address key issues such as disease resistance, weed suppression, and yield. Jakobson emphasizes the potential of new breeding techniques to improve several traits simultaneously, which will speed up the breeding process and produce better varieties in the future.
"New breeding techniques will help to increase the sustainability and resilience of food systems and support the objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy," Jakobson added.
Speaking at the book launch, Professor Agnès Ricroch, Editor-in-Chief, said: "This book will be of value to a wide audience, including those who wish to gain a broader knowledge of genome editing, as well as those who want a deeper understanding of the science."
"A Roadmap for Plant Genome Editing", published by Springer Cham, provides a comprehensive overview of the use of genome editing technologies, or new breeding techniques, to improve the yield, quality, or resistance of various agricultural, horticultural, and forestry crops. The book has been written by 77 authors from 21 countries, with a chapter by Liina Jakobson and Lyudmilla Timofeyeva, senior researchers at Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge.
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Liina Jakobson
Senior Researcher / Head of Plant Biotechnology Department
[email protected]
