The evolving landscape of precise DNA insertion in plants

Abstract

Precise DNA insertion into plant genomes is central to advancing crop improvement and synthetic biology. CRISPR-Cas systems have enabled programmable DNA integration using tools such as gene targeting (GT), prime editing (PE), and recombinase- or transposase-based platforms. These tools are transitioned from theoretical concepts to practical applications, supporting applications like in-locus protein tagging, regulatory element engineering, and multi-gene stacking. Key challenges persist, such as inefficient large-fragment insertion, delivery barriers, and regulatory hurdles. This review traces the evolution from random to CRISPR-Cas-based systems, analyzes current limitations, and discusses emerging solutions paving the way for predictable DNA insertion in modern plant biotechnology.