Plant synthetic metabolic engineering for enhancing crop nutritional quality

Authors: ZHU, QINLONG - South China Agricultural University; WANG, BIN - South China Agricultural Univerisity; TAN, JIANTAO - South China Agricultural Univerisity; LIU, TAOLI - South China Agricultural Univerisity; Li, Li; LIU, YAO-GUANG - South China Agricultural Univerisity

Submitted to: Plant Communications
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2019
Publication Date: 1/13/2020
Citation: Zhu, Q., Wang, B., Tan, J., Liu, T., Li, L., Liu, Y. 2020. Plant synthetic metabolic engineering for enhancing crop nutritional quality. Plant Communications. 1:100017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2019.100017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2019.100017

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nutrient deficiencies in crops are a serious threat to human health, especially for populations in poor areas. To overcome this problem, the development of crops with nutrient-enhanced traits is imperative. Biofortification of crops to improve nutritional quality helps combat nutrient deficiencies by increasing the levels of specific nutrient components. Compared with agronomic practices and conventional plant breeding, plant metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies are more effective and accurate in synthesizing specific micronutrients, phytonutrients, and/or bioactive components in crops. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the field of plant synthetic metabolic engineering, specifically in terms of research strategies of multigene stacking tools and engineering complex metabolic pathways, with a focus on improving traits related to micronutrients, phytonutrients, and bioactive components. Advances and innovations in plant synthetic metabolic engineering would facilitate the development of nutrient-enriched crops to meet the nutritional needs of humans.