Towards Stress-Resilient Canola via Genetic Engineering Approaches

Climate change has adversely affected grain production and quality of canola, the second-largest oilseed crop, which contributes 13–16% of total vegetable oil. Multiple biotic and abiotic stresses significantly limit canola production due to rapid climate change, and conventional breeding alone is insufficient to meet global demand. Therefore, several advanced biotechnologies have been developed to cope with this change. Among these, genetic modification, gene editing, and RNA interference are particularly significant for rapid cultivar development in a cost-effective, efficient, and convenient way. Recent findings in gene editing applications have revealed “prospective sites”, highlighting regions amenable to precise editing without compromising canola plant growth or development. Pan-genome analyses have further guided gene editing target selection, enabling the validation of key stress-resilience genes across diverse canola cultivars, while the CRISPR-epigenetic regulatory connection enables targeted control of gene expression and trait modulation. A hypothetical application of genomic selection is also suggested, which could complement gene editing to accelerate the development of superior cultivars. Accordingly, this review focuses on the latest studies of genetic modification, gene editing, and RNA interference to strengthen canola resilience under rapid climate change and discusses the major concerns. Taken together, these genome-editing strategies offer precise approaches for improving biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, although careful consideration of both off-target effects and regulatory compliance remains essential for their practical implementation in canola improvement.