Use of Biotechnology for Crop Improvement in Sri Lanka: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Crop production needs to be increased locally and globally to assure food and nutritional security of the growing population while reducing its impact on the environment. Advancements in biotechnological tools over the last three decades have revolutionized crop improvement programs. It has broadened the agricultural research area, increasing the efficiency of crop breeding through marker-assisted breeding, bringing in new opportunities to develop novel plant varieties by transgenic or cisgenic approaches and deletion of detrimental traits or addition of significant characters with RNA-guided genome editing technology. Further, advances in genome sequencing gives access to the large and complex genomes of crops and their wild relatives, helping to identify a wide spectrum of genetic variation and association of genetic diversity with diverse agronomic phenotypes. This review highlights the progression throughout the biotechnology legacy within Sri Lanka. This review also includes some information on how these technological advances provide new foundations for crop improvement programs in the country.