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

Plant

Sdn Type

Displaying 44 results

Traits related to biotic stress tolerance

Fungal resistance: increased resistance to both biotrophic and necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungi, Bipolaris spot blotch and Fusarium root rot.
(Galli et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Justus Liebig University, Germany
Viral resistance: Increased resistance to the barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV), which can cause yield losses as high as 50% upon infection.
(Hoffie et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)
Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Germany
Fungal resistance: increased resistance to Phytophthora tropicalis. Severe outbreaks can destroy all cacao fruit on a farm. Each year, global cacao production is destroyed with 20-30% by pathogens.
(Fister et al., 2018)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Pennsylvania State University, USA
Bacterial resistance: Xanthomonas citri, causing citrus canker, one of the most serious diseases affecting the global citrus industry. Citrus is the most produced fruit in the world.
(Jia et al., 2016)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Florida, USA
Bacterial resistance: resistance to Xanthomonas citri, a pathogen causing citrus canker. Citrus canker is one of the most devastating citrus diseases worldwide, causing canker symptoms. Generating disease-resistant varieties is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly measures for controlling canker.
(Jia et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Florida
Citrus Research and Education Center, USA
Viral resistance: Highly efficient resistance against wheat dwarf virus (WDV), an economically important virus. WDV infect both wheat and barley causing severe yield losses. The natural resistance resources are limited.
(Kis et al., 2019)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Pannonia
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Eötvös Loránd University University
Szent István University, Hungary
Viral resistance: increased resistance to turnip mosaic virus (TuMV).
(Lee et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Rural Development Administration
Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, South Korea
North Carolina State University, USA

Traits related to abiotic stress tolerance

Increased tolerance to salinity stress. Development of lines with reduced inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) content may enhance phosphate and mineral bioavailability. ICP6 is a major storage form of phosphate in cereal grains.
( Vicko et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
Regulated circadian clock: circadian clock measures and conveys day length information to control rhythmic hypocotyl growth in photoperiodic conditions, to achieve optimal fitness. Mutants showed longer hypocotyls, lower core circadian clock morning component mRNA and protein levels, and a shorter circadian rhythm. Exposure to high temperature due to global warming.
(Kim et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Institute of Agricultural Science
Korea Polar Research Institute
Seoul National University College of Medicine, South Korea
Improved drought and salt tolerance.
( Zhang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Forestry University
Chinese Academy of Forestry
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Nanjing Forestry University, China
Increased salt-tolerance.
( Antonova et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE)
N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)
Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG), Russia

Traits related to improved food/feed quality

Increased grain hardness and reduced grain width. Grain hardness index of hina mutants was 95.5 on average, while that of the wild type was only 53.7, indicating successful conversion of soft barley into hard barley.Grain hardness, defined as the resistance of the kernel to deformation, is the most important and defining quality of barley and wheat.
( Jiang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Qinghai Normal University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Specific differences in grain morphology, composition and (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content. Barley rich in (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan, a source of fermentable dietary fibre, is useful to protect against various human health conditions. However, low grain (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content is preferred for brewing and distilling.
( Garcia-Gimenez et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
The James Hutton Institute
University of Dundee, UK
University of Adelaide
La Trobe University, Australia
Changing grain composition: decrease in the prolamines, an increase in the glutenins, increased starch content, amylose content, and β-glucan content. The protein matrix surrounding the starch granules was increased.
(Yang et al., 2020)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sichuan Agricultural University, China
Norwich Research Park, UK
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australia
Lowering phytate synthesis in seeds. Phytate is an anti-nutritient.
( Vlčko and Ohnoutková, 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
Lower levels of D hordein. D hordein is one of the storage proteins in the grain, with a negative effect on malting quality.
( Li et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Qinghai Province Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Glossy sheat phenotype.
( Gerasimova et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)
Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany
Enhanced levels of glucoraphanin. The hydrolysis product of glucoraphanin has powerful anticancer activity.
( Zheng et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sichuan Agricultural University
Zhejiang University
Bijie Institute of Agricultural Science, China
Zero amylose grain. Amylose levels significantly influence processing of grain.
( Li et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qinghai University
Qinghai Academy of Agricultural and Forestry
Sciences
Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Traits related to increased plant yield and growth

Positive regulation for grain dormancy. Lack of grain dormancy in cereal crops causes losses in yield and quality because of preharvest sprouting.
( Lawrenson et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Norwich Research Park, UK
Murdoch University, Australia
Induced erect leaf habit and shoot growth for a more efficient light penetration into lower canopy layers.
( Fladung et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics, Germany
Increase in plant height, tiller number, grain protein content and yield. 1.5- to 2.8-fold increase in total chlorophyll content in the flag leaf at the grain filling stage. Delayed senescence by 10–14 days. High nitrogen content in shoots under low nitrogen conditions.
( Karunarathne et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Murdoch University
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Australia
Root growth angle regulation, among the most important determinants of root system architecture. Root growth angle controls water uptake capacity, stress resilience, nutrient use efficiency and thus yield of crop plants.
( Kirschner et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Bonn
University of Cologne
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben
Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
University of Bologna, Italy

Altered spike architecture.
( de Souza Moraes et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Norwich Research Park, UK
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Germany
Semi-dwarf phenotype to improve lodging resistance and increased seed dormancy. Increased seed dormancy can be beneficial for use in the malting industry.
( Cheng et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Tasmania
Murdoch University
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Australia
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Increased formation of adventitious roots (ARs). The formation of ARs is extremely important to the large-scale vegetative propagation of elite genotypes in many economically important woody species.
( Ran et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Forestry University
Yangzhou University, China
Delayed bolting.
( Shin et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Kyung Hee University, South Korea
Delayed bolting.
( Shin et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Kyung Hee University, South Korea
Early bolting and flowering.
( Wang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University, China
Decreased spike rachis node number and increased grain size and weight.
( Fan et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory
Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
China Agricultural University
Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
More and longer lateral roots, more xylem and increased development of secondary vascular tissues: plants more suitable for biofuel and bioenergy production.
(An et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang A &
F University, China

Traits related to industrial utilization

35% reduction in lignin. Fourfold increase in cellulose-to-glucose conversion upon limited saccharification. Efficient saccharification is hindered by the presence of lignin in the secondary-thickened cell walls.
( de Vries et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium
Reduced lignin content and increased sugar release upon saccharification.
( De Meester et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium
Improved saccharification efficiency by an altered cell wall architecture.
( Nayeri et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Shahid Beheshti University
University of Tabriz, Iran
Tailoring poplar lignin without yield penalty. Reduced recalcitrance.
( De Meester et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology
VIB Metabolomics Core, Belgium
Early-flowering.
( Jeong et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Department of Biological Science
Seoul National University
Chungnam National University
Institute for Basic Science
Kangwon National University
Kyunghee University, South Korea
Delayed flowering time.
( Hong et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, South Korea
Conversion of hulled into naked barley.
( Gasparis et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Research Institute
Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Poland
Improve biofuel production by mediating lignin modification. Lignocellulosic biomasses are an abundant renewable source of carbon energy. Heterogenous properties of lignocellulosic biomass and intrinsic recalcitrance caused by cell wall lignification lower the biorefinery efficiency. Reduced lignin content is desired.
( Lee et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
University of Science and Technology (UST)
Daejeon, South Korea
Stem wood discoloration due to lignin reduction.
( Zhou et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Georgia, USA
Complete reproductive sterility to prevent the spread of highly domesticated, exotic or genetically modified organisms into wild populations.
( Azeez et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Michigan Technological University, USA
Modified wood composition with traits desirable for fiber pulping and lower carbon emissions. The edited wood could bring efficiencies, bioeconomic opportunities and environmental benefits.
( Sulis et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
North Carolina State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Beihua University
Northeast Forestry University, China

Traits related to product color/flavour

Yellow stems and leaves.
( Sun et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sichuan Agricultural University
Zhejiang University, China
Albino phenotype
( Fan et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Southwest University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China