The advent of genome editing technologies has made the development of customized crop varieties a tangible reality, allowing precise modification of physiological and morphological traits. While altering specific metabolic pathways, such as those for vitamin biosynthesis, can often be achieved through targeted manipulation of key enzymes, most agronomical traits are governed by complex gene networks. This complexity makes it challenging to pinpoint effective genetic targets. Transcription factors, which regulate a wide array of downstream genes, play a crucial role in controlling traits related to morphology and stress responses. In this talk, I will present a strategic framework for genome engineering in crop breeding, using lettuce as a case study. By integrating gene regulatory network analysis with DNA motif discovery, we can identify key regulatory nodes and prioritize effective targets for trait optimization.
