Recent progress in medicinal plant transformation and genome editing

In the post-genomic era, both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have emerged as critical tools for gene function research. Plant genetic transformation has evolved from methods requiring tissue culture to new approaches that bypass tissue culture entirely. Furthermore, gene editing technology has advanced from initial techniques of targeted gene segment modification and repair to more sophisticated strategies, such as precise nucleotide substitution and targeted insertion, deletion, and segment editing at specific sites without the need for cutting. Recent advancements in both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have significantly accelerated the field of plant biotechnology. In the present paper, we review recent progress on plant genetic transformation and genome editing technologies, as well as their applications in medicinal plants, providing insights into gene function analysis and molecular breeding strategies for medicinal plants.