Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnologyNov 7, 2025

New developments in using gene editing to study and control plant disease fungi

CRISPR Gene Editing Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

The CRISPR/Cas system has been extensively applied to the genetic study of plant pathogenic fungi.

Filamentous fungi are significant eukaryotic microorganisms playing diverse roles in ecosystems and agriculture.
Many fungal species are major plant pathogens, causing yield losses and producing harmful mycotoxins.
CRISPR/Cas technology aids in investigating pathogenic mechanisms and mycotoxin production in fungi.
This technology allows for rapid detection of pathogens and insights into antifungal resistance.
Emerging fungal-adapted gene editing systems may enhance functional genomics and support sustainable crop protection.

Simplified

Filamentous fungi represent an important group of eukaryotic microorganisms with diverse ecological functions and ubiquitous distribution in various ecosystems. Among them, many species are closely associated with agriculture, functioning as major plant pathogens that cause yield losses and produce mycotoxins to compromise both the quality and safety of agricultural products. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a powerful and programmable genome editing tool, and it has been extensively applied to the genetic study of plant pathogenic fungi. This technology has greatly facilitated the investigation of pathogenic mechanisms, mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways and key gene functions, antifungal resistance, and rapid pathogen detection. This review summarizes the development of CRISPR/Cas systems and the key strategies for their application in plant pathogenic fungi and makes an outlook on the practical deployment. With the continuous advancement of gene editing technologies, emerging fungal-adapted editing systems hold great promise for advancing functional genomics and enabling innovations in disease-resistant breeding and sustainable crop protection.

New developments in using gene editing to study and control plant disease fungi

Abstract

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