Genome Editing as A Versatile Tool to Improve Horticultural Crop Qualities

The quality traits of horticultural crops, including the accumulation of nutrients and flavor substances, morphology, and texture, affect the palatability and nutritional value. For many years, efforts have been made to improve the quality of horticultural crops. The recent establishment of gene editing technology, with its potential applications in horticultural crops, provides a strategy for achieving this goal in a rapid and efficient manner. Here, we summarize research efforts aimed at improving horticultural crop quality through genome editing. We describe specific genome editing systems that have been used and traits that have been targeted in these efforts. Additionally, we discuss limiting factors and future perspectives of genome editing technology in improving horticultural crop qualities in both research and plant breeding. In summary, genome editing technology is emerging as a powerful tool for efficiently and rapidly improving horticultural crop quality, and we believe that the cautious application of genome editing in horticultural crops will generate new germplasms with improved quality in the near future.