A Perspective on RNAi-Based Technology for Crop Productivity and Protection

The RNAi-mediated technology has emerged as a powerful platform for developing eco-friendly and stable molecular tools for crop improvement. Both siRNA and miRNA are found in all the kingdoms of eukaryotic life and have been employed for crop improvement by enhancing plant nutritional value, development of seedless fruits, and enhancement of shelf life in various plants. It has also been exploited for elimination of anti-nutritional factors and allergens in the crop plants and in floricultural plants to improve and modify the flower color. RNAi-based host plant-mediated gene silencing technique can be used to combat plant pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, nematodes, fungal, and oomycetes plant pathogens of various agronomically important crop plants. RNA silencing technologies have been used in vegetable plants to enhance pest and disease resistance, alter architectural changes in plant and flowering time, improve commercial traits of fruits and flowers, improve nutritional content, eliminate toxic compounds and allergens, and promote a greater industrial product.