Biotechnological Approaches for Enhancing Disease Resistance and Crop Quality in Horticultural Plants

Horticulture plays a vital role in global food security, human nutrition, and economic development. However, horticultural crops face significant challenges from pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, leading to substantial yield losses. Conventional breeding methods have limitations in developing disease-resistant and high-yielding cultivars due to the narrow genetic base of horticultural crops and the time-consuming nature of traditional breeding. Biotechnological tools offer promising solutions to overcome these challenges and enhance crop productivity and disease resistance in horticulture. This review article explores the various biotechnological approaches, including marker-assisted selection (MAS), genetic engineering, genome editing, and micropropagation, and their applications in improving disease resistance and crop productivity in horticultural crops. MAS enables the precise and rapid selection of desired traits, such as disease resistance, by using molecular markers linked to the traits of interest. Genetic engineering allows the introduction of novel genes from diverse sources into horticultural crops to confer resistance against specific pathogens and pests. Genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, provide a powerful tool for precise and targeted modifications of plant genomes to enhance disease resistance and other desirable traits. Micropropagation techniques facilitate the rapid multiplication of disease-free planting materials and the conservation of valuable germplasm. The article also discusses the challenges and future prospects of applying biotechnological tools in horticultural crop improvement. The integration of biotechnological approaches with conventional breeding and sustainable crop management practices holds great promise for developing disease-resistant and high-yielding horticultural crops, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable horticulture in the face of global challenges.