Xingzhu Feng

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0027
Received: 20 Sep., 2025    Accepted: 30 Oct., 2025    Published: 24 Nov., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Feng X.Z., 2025, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of drought-sensitive genes improves maize tolerance, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 16(6): 294-303 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0027)

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security, yet its productivity is severely threatened by recurrent drought stress in many regions. Conventional breeding approaches have achieved limited success in improving drought resilience due to the complex and polygenic nature of drought tolerance. In this study, we explore the application of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology as a precise and efficient strategy for enhancing drought tolerance in maize. By reviewing recent advances, we identified key drought-sensitive genes such as ZmNAC111, ZmPP2C-A10, and ZmDREB2A, which were targeted for knockout using various transformation techniques including Agrobacterium-mediated and biolistic methods. Functional validation and field evaluations of CRISPR-edited maize lines demonstrated significant improvements in physiological and agronomic traits under drought conditions, including enhanced root development, reduced stomatal conductance, better water retention, and higher yield stability compared to wild-type plants. The findings highlight that gene knockouts effectively mitigate drought-induced physiological stress and optimize water use efficiency. Although challenges remain regarding off-target effects, regulatory frameworks, and public acceptance, CRISPR/Cas9 offers a transformative platform for integrating molecular precision with traditional breeding. This study underscores the potential of genome editing in developing drought-resilient maize varieties and anticipates future advancements through multiplex editing and next-generation CRISPR technologies.

CRISPR/Cas9; Drought tolerance; Maize; Gene knockout; Genome editing