Abstract:

Plant regeneration and genetic transformation are fundamental to plant biotechnology and precision breeding. However, their application across diverse crops has long been hindered by the persistent challenges of “genotype dependency” and “low regeneration efficiency”, which severely limit their broad utility, especially in recalcitrant germplasms. In recent years, with the deepening development and interdisciplinary convergence of fields such as plant developmental biology, epigenetics, and synthetic biology, the field of plant regeneration and transformation is undergoing a paradigm shift from “experience-dependent” practice to “mechanism-based rational design”. This shift is enabling critical breakthroughs to address these bottlenecks. This review systematically outlines and critically analyzes the latest advancements in four core areas: first, the engineered application of developmental regulators, particularly the discovery and universal validation of the GRF-GIF chimeric system; second, the mechanistic elucidation of epigenetic regulatory networks and corresponding chemical intervention strategies; third, innovations and multipronged breakthroughs in gene delivery systems; and fourth, the emergence and development of tissue culture-independent in planta transformation technologies. These synergistic advances collectively constitute a powerful toolbox that is progressively dismantling the barriers of genotype dependency, thereby opening new chapters for global crop improvement and functional genomics research.

Key words: plant regeneration, genetic transformation, GRF-GIF, epigenetic regulation, ternary vector system, in planta transformation