Genome editing advancements in potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. ): operational challenges and solutions

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most important staple food crop after wheat and rice. Several biotic and abiotic environmental factors hamper potato productivity worldwide. Although conventional breeding approaches have significantly enhanced potato productivity, however, they take a long time to develop crop varieties with desired traits. Genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein) have emerged as an alternative tool for faster trait improvement. The simplicity, multiplexity, and precision of CRISPR/Cas have made it a versatile system for developing transgene-free varieties. In this review, we spotlight recent advances made by CRISPR/Cas system for trait improvement in potato. Specifically, the generation of amylose-free, steroid glycoalkaloids (SGA) free, starch-resistant, disease-resistant, herbicide-resistant, and potato with reduced enzymatic browning and self-compatibility are discussed. Polyploidy is a major bottleneck for genome editing, however, several optimizations can be made for efficient gene editing in polyploid crops including potato. We highlight these operational challenges and technical solutions to execute CRISPR/Cas mediated genome editing in potato.