Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40923633›Full record

ReviewPlant, cell & environment2026

CRISPR RNP-Mediated Transgene-Free Genome Editing in Plants: Advances, Challenges and Future Directions for Tree Species.

Muthusamy Ramakrishnan, Rashmi Kaul, Anket Sharma, Zishan Ahmad, Venkatesan Vijayakanth, Krishnamurthi Keerthana, Zhipeng Gao, Mingbing Zhou, Qiang Wei

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Plant, cell & environment, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Muthusamy RamakrishnanState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7819-339X
Rashmi KaulAmity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anket SharmaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Provincial Key Laboratory for Non-Wood Forest and Quality Control and Utilization of Its Products, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5251-9045
Zishan AhmadState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6170-4608
Venkatesan VijayakanthState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Krishnamurthi KeerthanaState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Zhipeng GaoState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Mingbing ZhouNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5674-4410
Qiang WeiState Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5180-2087

Funding

The preparation of this review was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32471977 and 32071848); a grant from the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20231289); the Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Nanjing Forestry University (JC2019004); the Project for Groundbreaking Achievements of Nanjing Forestry University (202211); and a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The authors are also grateful for the Young Foreign Talent Program (Y20240114) and the support of Metasequoia Faculty Research Start-up Funding (163100028 and 163100036) at the Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

CRISPR ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-mediated genome editing offers a transgene-free platform for precise genetic modification in diverse herbaceous and tree species, including rice, wheat, apple, poplar, oil palm, rubber tree and grapevine. However, its application in woody plants faces distinct challenges, notably inefficient delivery and regeneration difficulties, particularly in species such as bamboo. While some of these issues also occur in herbaceous plants, they are often significantly more complex in woody species due to factors such as intricate cell wall architecture, widespread recalcitrant genotypes and inherent limitations of current delivery platforms. This review presents the first in-depth, critical re-evaluation of recent advancements in RNP-mediated editing in woody plants, highlighting these obstacles that warrant focused attention. Unlike plasmid-based CRISPR systems, RNP editing utilises Cas9/Cas12a protein-guide RNA complexes without integrating foreign DNA. This enables a DNA-free editing strategy that simplifies regulatory approval and minimises off-target effects due to the transient presence and rapid degradation of RNPs within plant cells. While PEG-mediated protoplast transfection and particle bombardment remain the primary reported methods for RNP delivery in trees, we evaluate promising alternative strategies such as lipofection, electroporation, cell-penetrating peptides and nanoparticle-based systems for targeted RNP delivery. Despite their promise, these advanced methods remain largely untested in woody species. Finally, we outline future research directions, including the development of tree-specific RNP delivery systems and regeneration protocols to enhance efficiency and minimise cytotoxicity. These innovations are essential for unlocking the full potential of RNP-mediated genome editing in long-lived tree species. This review provides a focused and timely roadmap for expanding the application of RNP technology across diverse woody plants.

Indexed as

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsCRISPR-Cas SystemsGene EditingGenome, PlantRibonucleoproteinsTreesPlants, Genetically ModifiedTransgenesRibonucleoproteinsCas9CRISPR ribonucleoproteingenome editinggRNARNP complexRNP delivery

Identifiers

PMID40923633
PMCPMC13551641

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.