Genome-editing techniques are promising tools in plant breeding. To facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the use of genome editing, EU-SAGE developed an interactive, publicly accessible online database of genome-edited crop plants as described in peer-reviewed scientific publications.
The aim of the database is to inform interested stakeholder communities in a transparent manner about the latest evidence about the use of genome editing in crop plants. Different elements including the plant species, traits, techniques, and applications can be filtered in this database.
Regarding the methodology, a literature search in the bibliographic databases and web pages of governmental agencies was conducted using predefined queries in English. Identifying research articles in other languages was not possible due to language barriers. Patents were not screened.
Peer-reviewed articles were screened for relevance and were included in the database based on pre-defined criteria. The main criterium is that the research article should describe a research study of any crop plant in which a trait has been introduced that is relevant from an agricultural and/or food/feed perspective. The database does neither give information on the stage of development of the crop plant, nor on the existence of the intention to develop the described crop plants to be marketed.
This database will be regularly updated. Please contact us via the following webpage in case you would like to inform us about a new scientific study of crops developed for market-oriented agricultural production as a result of genome editing

Genome Editing Technique

Displaying 60 results

Traits related to biotic stress tolerance

Increased jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation after wounding and plant resistance to herbivorous insects.
( Sun et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Fungal resistance: enhanced resistance to Phytophthora infestans. Phytophthora infestans causes late blight disease, which is severely damaging to the global tomato industry
(Hong et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Dalian University of Technology
Beijing Academy of Agriculture &
Forestry Sciences
Shenyang Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, China
Fast and accurate field screening and differentiation of four major Tobamoviruses infecting tomato and pepper. Tomatoviruses are the most important viruses infecting plants and cause huge economic losses to tomato and pepper crops globally.
( Zhao et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine
China Agricultural University, China
Viral resistance: reduced potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) accumulation and alleviated disease symptoms. PSTVd can threaten tomato production.
(Wei Khoo et al., 2024)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Southwest University
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences
China Agricultural University
Inner Mongolia Zhongjia Agricultural Biotechnology Co. Ltd., China
Fungal resistance: Enhanced resistance against powdery mildew, caused by Oidium neolycopersici, which is a major concern for the productivity of tomato plants.
(Li et al., 2024)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Torino, Italy
Wageningen University &
Research, The Netherlands
Shanxi Agricultural University, China
Enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea.
( Huang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Beijing University of Agriculture
Capital Normal University, China

Traits related to abiotic stress tolerance

Fruits insensitive to the effectss of high temperature stress and with reduced browning phenotype caused by high temperatures.
( Wang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northwest A &
F University
College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, China
Enhanced cold tolerance.
( Fan et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Liaocheng University, China
Enhanced tolerance to heat stress involving ROS homeostasis. Less severe wilting and less membrane damage, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents and higher activities and transcript levels of antioxidant enzymes, as well as higher expression of heat shock proteins and genes encoding heat stress transcription factors.
( Yu et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Renmin University of China, China
Modulate aluminium resistance. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the main factor inhibiting plant root development and reducing crops yield in acidic soils.
( Zhang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
China Agricultural University, China
University of California, USA
Enhanced drought resistance through decreased stomata density and reduced water loss.
( Lv et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, China
Enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress.
( Shen et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chongqing University
Yunnan Agricultural University, China
Enhanced drought tolerance.
( Liu et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Enhanced drought tolerance.
( Qiu et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Southwest University, China
Conferred thermotolerance and the stability of heat shock proteins.
( Huang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang University
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China
Shandong (Linyi) Institute of Modern Agriculture, China

Traits related to improved food/feed quality

Increased tolerance to the heavy metal Cadmium.
( Liu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang University
Agricultural Ministry of China, China
High fruit malate accumulation. Malate is a primary organic acid in tomato and a crucial compound that contributes to fruit flavor and palatability.
( Ye et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Cornell University, USA
Enhanced soluble sugar content in tomato fruit. Soluble sugar improves the sweetness and increases tomato sauce yield.
( Wang et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Xinjiang Agricultural University, China
Increased lycopene content. Lycopene plays a role in treating chronic diseases and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Enhanced contents of lycopene, phytoene, prolycopene, a-carotene, and lutein.
( Li et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Increased flavonoid content. Flavonoids play a role in fruit colour and are important for human health as favourable hydrophilic antioxidants.
( Zhou et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Increased gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA): 1.34-fold to 3.50-fold increase in GABA accumulation. GABA is a nonprotegeonomic amino acid with health-promoting functions.
(Li et al., 2017)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Increased gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content. GABA is a nonproteogenic amino acid with health-promoting functions.
( Lee et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China

Traits related to increased plant yield and growth

Helical and vine-like growth. Helical growth is an economical way for plant to obtain resources.
( Yang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Elongated fruit morphology.
( Zhang et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China
Larger fruits with more locules and larger shoot apical meristem.
( Song et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University, China
University of Toulouse, France
Regulated inflorescence and flower development. More flowers and more fruit produced upon vibration-assisted fertilization.
( Hu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Université de Toulouse, France
Chongqing University, China
Early flowering phenotype with no adverse effect on yield.
( Shang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Huazhong Agricultural University
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
University of Nottingham, UK
Increased shoot branching. The number of side branches is very important to plant architecture, which influences the yield and quality of the plant.
( Chen et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang University
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, China
More flowers in both determinate and indeterminate cultivars and more produced fruit.
( Hu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Université de Toulouse
Université Bordeaux, France
Chongqing University, China
Promote growth of axillary buds. Lateral branches develop from the axillary buds. The number of side branches is very important to plant architecture, which influences the yield and quality of the plant.
( Li et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Guizhou University
Northwest A&
F University
Shandong Agricultural University
Northeast Agricultural University
Shanxi University, China
Oxford University
University of Bedfordshire, UK
Regulated sepal growth
( Xing et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhejiang University, China
University of Nottingham, UK
Elongated, occasionally peanut-like shaped fruit.
( Zheng et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nagoya University
Kanazawa University, Japan
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Dwarf phenotype. Tomatoes with compact growth habits and reduced plant height can be useful in some environments.
( Ao et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chongqing University, China
Dwarf phenotype to improve crop yield: lodging-resistant, compact, and perform well under high-density planting.
(Sun et al., 2020)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Shenyang Agricultural University
National &
Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design &
Application Technology
College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, China
Increased pollen activity, subsequently inducing fruit setting.
( Wu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University
Chongqing University, China
Université de Toulouse, France

Traits related to industrial utilization

Generating male sterility lines (MLS). Using MLS in hybrid seed production reduces costs and ensures high purity of the varieties because it does not produce pollen and has exserted stigmas.
( Bao et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Yunnan Agricultural University
Yunnan Academy of Agriculture Sciences, China
Accelerated abscission. Plant organ abscission is a process important for development and reproductive success,
( Liu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Shenyang Agricultural University
Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Ministry of Education, China
University of California at Davis
Crops Pathology and Genetic Research Unit, USA
Domestication: Conferred domesticated phenotypes yet retained parental disease resistance (predominately Xanthomonas perforans), and salt tolerance.
(Li et al., 2018)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Generating male sterility lines (MLS). Using MLS in hybrid seed production reduces costs and ensures high purity of the varieties because it does not produce pollen and has exserted stigmas.
( Liu et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northwest A&
F University
Xi’an Jinpeng Seedlings Co. Ltd.
Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center of Shaanxi Province, China
Male sterility for hybrid seed production reduces costs and ensures high varietal purity.
( Du et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University, China
Generating male sterility lines (MLS). Using MLS in hybrid seed production reduces costs and ensures high seed purity during hybrid seed production.
( Zhou et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
China Agricultural University, China

Traits related to product color/flavour

Fine-tuned anthocyanin biosynthesis.
( )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Forestry University, Horticultural Sub-academy of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Wonsan University of Agriculture, South Korea
Enriched aroma.
( Bian et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang University
Peking University
Chongqing University
Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Southwest University
Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, China
Tomatoes with different fruit colors, including yellow, brown, pink, light-yellow, pink-brown, yellow-green, and light green.
( Yang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, China
Adjusted fruit colors and flavours such as increased glucose or fructose content.
( Jia et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jiangxi Agricultural University
Anhui Agricultural University
Research Centre for Biological Breeding Technology
Zhejiang University
Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Color modification: pink tomatoes.
(Yang et al., 2019)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Huazhong Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, China
Pink fruit color.
( Deng et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Fine-tuning anthocyanin content.
( Yan et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Improved fruit ripening and increased fruit firmness at the red ripe stage.
( Zhang et al., 2024 )
SDN2
CRISPR/Cas
Henan Agricultural University
Huazhong Agricultural University, China

Traits related to storage performance

Decreased postharvest water loss with a 17–30% increase in wax accumulation.
( Chen et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
University of Nottingham, UK
Delayed fruit ripening.
( Li et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Agricultural University, China
University of Connecticut, USA
Delayed fruit ripening.
( Lang et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Purdue University, USA
Repressed fruit ripening by repressing ethylene production and lycopene accumulation.
( Li et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Improved fruit firmness which extends the shelf life.
( Yuan et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sichuan University, China
Altering tomato fruit ripening and softening, key traits for fleshy fruit. During ripening, fruit will gradually soften which is largely the result of fruit cell wall degradation. Softening may improve the edible quality of fruit but also reduces fruit resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. Fruit softening can cause mechanical damage during storage and transportation as well, which can reduce the storage and shelf life, leading to fruit loss.
( Gao et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
South China Agricultural University
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Zhejiang University
Beijing University of Agriculture, China
University of Nottingham, UK
Delayed fruit inner ripening.
( Ao et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chongqing University, China
Improved shelf-life by targeting the genes modulating pectin degradation in ripening tomato.
( Wang et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of London
University of Leicester
University of Nottingham
University of Leeds, UK
International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia
Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
University of California, USA
Delayed colour change of fruits.
( Li et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Gansu Agricultural University
Guangxi University
Yangtze University, China
Improved shelf life.
( Yu et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, China
Improved shelf-life with improved or not affected sugar: acid ratio, aroma volatiles, and skin color.
(Ortega-Salazar et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of California, USA
Zhejiang Normal University, China
University of Nottingham, UK