# Multiplex gene editing drives revolution in crop breeding: overlaid editing of multiple genes and customization of complex traits

## TL;DR

Multiplex gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 is transforming crop breeding by enabling the simultaneous improvement of multiple traits like yield, quality, and stress resistance.

## Contribution

This review summarizes MGE strategies and their practical applications in crop breeding, offering new ideas for achieving diverse breeding goals.

## Key findings

- CRISPR/Cas9-based MGE allows efficient pyramiding and precise regulation of multiple traits.
- MGE has been successfully applied to enhance stress resistance, increase yield, and improve quality in crops.
- The review provides a theoretical reference for advancing modern crop breeding practices.

## Abstract

Modern agriculture currently demands higher standards for the simultaneous improvement of crop yield, quality and stress resistance. However, traditional crop breeding methods can no longer meet the needs of modern agricultural development. Improving a single trait is no longer sufficient to meet the multifaceted demands of modern agricultural production and consumer expectations. Multiple traits breeding has increasingly become a key objective in current crop breeding. Over the past decade, CRISPR/Cas9-based multiplex genome editing (MGE) has enabled efficient pyramiding and precise regulation of multiple traits via targeted editing of multiple gene loci, revolutionizing crop breeding. In this review, we briefly describe the core CRISPR/Cas-based MGE strategies and technical workflows, and thoroughly discuss the practical outcomes of MGE applications in various fields, such as enhancing crop stress resistance, increasing yield and improving quality. This review aims to provide a summary and theoretical reference for crop breeding, as well as open up new ideas for achieving different breeding goals.