Utilizing CRISPR-Cas13 and Omics Technologies to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Iraqi Wheat Varieties in Abu-Ghraib/ Baghdad

Abstract

Drought stress poses a major threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and food security in arid regions such as Iraq. This study combines precision CRISPR-Cas13 RNA knockdown with multidimensional multi-omics platforms to enhance drought tolerance in local Iraqi wheat genotypes. During the critical summer cultivation period (Tammuz), experimental trials were conducted at the Abu Ghraib research site under controlled greenhouse conditions. We identified 34 conserved stress-responsive genes, 4,520 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 320 copy-number variations (CNVs), and five major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to osmotic adjustment using BLAST bioinformatic alignment, GATK variant calling, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Using CRISPR-Cas13 post-transcriptional modification to target seven master negative regulators, 85% of downstream drought-responsive transcripts under water-deficit conditions were successfully upregulated by 2.3-28-fold. Evaluations conducted in controlled greenhouses showed a 23% increase in cellular antioxidant enzyme activity, a 19% increase in root water-absorption efficiency, a 28% reduction in leaf water loss, and a 42% higher survival rate. The breeding timescale was shortened by 30-35% by integrating these multi-omics biomarkers into a marker-assisted selection (MAS) framework. Under severe water deficits, agronomic trials showed a 115% increase in total grain yield while saving up to 40% of conventional irrigation-water inputs and increasing water-use efficiency by 35%. Agricultural policymakers and breeders should consider integrating this precision biotechnological approach into regional strategies to support food security under increasing climate-related challenges.