Engineering tuber crops for carbon sequestration: genetic improvement strategies and technological advances

Root and tuber crops (RTCs), such as potato, cassava, and sweet potato, are globally critical staple foods and exhibit substantial potential for carbon sequestration. Their unique source-sink-flow synergy, high photosynthetic efficiency, and underground carbon storage capacity make them pivotal for climate change mitigation. However, RTCs face inherent bottlenecks: inefficient C3 photosynthesis with photorespiratory losses, source-sink imbalance, and inadequate low-carbon management practices. To address these limitations, this review synthesizes genetic engineering strategies (e.g., optimizing Rubisco function, introducing C4/CAM pathway elements, enhancing sink strength via AGPase and sugar transporters), and improved field management (e.g., balanced fertilization, crop rotation, biochar application, and IoT-based precision agriculture). These integrated approaches synergistically boost carbon fixation, optimize carbon allocation, and strengthen soil carbon sinks. RTCs thus represent a promising avenue to reconcile food security with carbon neutrality goals, providing actionable pathways for developing climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural systems globally.