In the present scenario of a looming food crisis, improving per hectare rice productivity at a greater pace is among the topmost priorities of scientists and breeders. In the past decades, conventional, mutational, and marker-assisted breeding techniques have played a significant role in developing multiple desired rice varieties. However, due to certain limitations, these techniques cannot furnish the projected food security of the 2050 population’s aching stomachs. One of the possible options would be precise crop genome editing using various tools, viz., TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 to resolve this multifaceted crisis. Initially, the potentiality of these technologies was tested only in the rice protoplasts. Later, the techniques were employed to edit calli with help of modified vectors, CRISPR variants, cassette cloning systems, and delivery methods. With the continuous technological advancements such as base editing, multiplexing, etc., the precision, rapidness, efficiency, reliability, potency, and range of applications of these platforms have increased and even been used for gene function studies. This leads to a revolution in the field of the rice improvement program, especially the stress tolerance against various pests and pathogens in which the susceptibility factors located within the rice genome are targeted through genome editing tools. Therefore, in this current article, we have summarized the advancements in the rice genome editing tools during the last decade concerning enhanced biotic stress tolerance. Additionally, we have focused on the regulatory aspects of genome editing with associated risks and limitations, and the prospects to reshape the rice genome for durable resistance to complex biotic stress.

Foliar blast, caused by Pyricularia grisea, poses a major challenge to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br) production, leading to severe yield losses, particularly in rainfed ecologies. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of blast resistance through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 281 diverse pearl millet inbreds. GWAS panel was phenotyped for blast resistance against three distinct isolates of P. grisea collected from Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan locations, revealing a significant variability with 16.7% of the inbreds showing high resistance. Bayesian information and linkage disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK) and Multi-Locus Mixed Model (MLMM) models using transformed means identified 68 significant SNPs linked to resistance, with hotspots for resistance-related genes on chromosomes 1, 2, and 6. These regions harbor genes involved in defense mechanisms, including immune response, stress tolerance, signal transduction, transcription regulation, and pathogen defense. Genes, namely 14-3-3-like proteins RGA2, RGA4, hypersensitive-induced response proteins, NHL3, NBS-LRR, LRR-RLK, LRRNT_2, and various transcription factors such as AP2/ERF and WRKY, played a crucial role in the stress-responsive pathways. Analyses of transporter proteins, redox processes, and structural proteins revealed additional mechanisms contributing to blast resistance. This study offers valuable insights into the complex genetic architecture of blast resistance in pearl millet, offering a solid foundation for marker-assisted breeding programs and gene-editing experiments.