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

Displaying 75 results

Traits related to biotic stress tolerance

Fungal resistance: Increased resistance to Phytophthora sojae, a pathogen severely impairing soybean production.
(Yu et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Science
Jiamusi Branch Academy of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Increased resistance to drought stress by enhancing antioxidant capacity and defence system.
( Gao et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Henan Agricultural University
China Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., China
Viral resistance: enhanced Potato virus Y (PVY) resistance. PVY infection can result in up to 70% yield loss globally.
(Le et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam
University of Edinburgh, UK
Enhanced resistance to powdery mildew.
( Wang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Institute of Tobacco Research, China
Resistance against leaf chewing insects: leaf-chewing insects cause yield loss and reduce seed quality in soybeans
(Zhang et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Huazhong Agricultural University
Henan Agricultural University, China
Resistance to Phytophthora sojae, which severely impairs soybean production.
( Yu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Science
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jiamusi Branch Academy of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Viral resistance: highly resistant to viral infection with beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV), a geminivirus that can cause serious damage to many crop plants.
(Ji et al., 2015)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Viral resistance: Attenuated infection symptoms and reduced viral RNA accumulation, specific for the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).
(Zhang et al., 2018)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University, China
University of Missouri, USA
Viral resistance: resistance to potato virus Y (PVY), one of the most economically and scientifically important plant viruses, causing damaging diseases of cultivated tobacco around the world.
(Ruyi et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Mudanjiang Teachers College
Jilin Normal University
Mudanjiang Tobacco Research Institute, China
Viral resistance: to Cotton Leaf Curl Kokhran Virus, causing Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), a very devastating and prevalent disease. CLCuD causes huge losses to the textile and other industries.
(Hamza et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Pakistan
Oomycete resistance: increased resistance against soybean root rot disease caused by Phytophthora sojae.
(Liu et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Agricultural University, China
Viral resistance: increased resistance against Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV).
(Jogam et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Kakatiya University
Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (DBT-CIAB), India
University of Minnesota
East Carolina University, USA
Fungal resistance: enhanced resistance to Golovinomyces cichoracearum, which causes powdery mildew.
(Wang et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Linyi Tobacco Company
Tobacco Research Institute of Hubei Province
China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co., China
Sensitive detection of two fungal pathogens (Diaporthe aspalathi and Diaporthe caulivora) that cause soybean stem canker. The method requires minimal equipment as well as training and shows potential for on-site screening.
( Sun et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine
Shenyang Agricultural University
Huangpu Customs Technology Center
Technical Center of Hangzhou Customs
Dalian University, China
Fungal resistance: Enhanced resistance to powdery mildew, a fungal disease causing great losses in soybean yield and seed quality.
(Bui et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Institute of Biotechnology
University of Science and Technology of Hanoi
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Science, Vietnam
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Missouri, USA

Nematode resistance: resistance against soybean cyst nematode. Plant-parasitic nematode pests result in billions of dollars in realized annual losses worldwide.
(Usovsky et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Missouri
University of Georgia
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USA

Traits related to abiotic stress tolerance

Drought and salt tolerance.
( Curtin et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Minnesota, USA
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Enhanced salinity stress tolerance.
( Wang et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Normal University
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Linyi University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Drought resistance.
( Zhang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jilin Agricultural University, China
Improved Cadmium (Cd)-tolerance by reducing the Cd transport from vacuole to cytosol in tobacco leaves.
( Jia et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Henan Agricultural University
Xiamen University, China
Increased drought tolerance.
( Xu et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
R&
D Center of China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co. Ltd.
Sichuan Agriculture University, China
Enhanced resistance to drought stress with increased osmotic adjustment, antioxidant activity, photosynthetic efficiency and decreased water loss rate.
( Liu et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Tobacco Research Institute
Key Laboratory of Tobacco Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology
Shenzhen Yupeng Technology Co.
Sichuan Tobacco Corporation, China
Reduced cadmium (Cd) accumulation and enhanceed Cd resistance. Cd accumulation in the edible parts of the plant pose potential risks to human health.
( Zheng et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC
China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co. LTD
Beijing Life Science Academy (BLSA)
Zhengzhou University, China

Traits related to improved food/feed quality

Reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids content and increased content of monounsaturated fatty acids. High levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in natural soybean oil renders the oil susceptible to the development of unpalatable flavors and trans fatty acids.
( Fu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Reduced phytic acid content in soybean seeds. Monogastric animals are unable to digest phytic acid, making phytic acid phosphorous in animal waste one of the major causes of environmental phosphorus pollution.
( Song et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Dong-A University
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience Biotechnology (KRIBB), Korea
Improved seed protein content.
( Shen et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Corteva Agriscience
University of Arizona, USA
Ultra-low nicotine level
( Burner et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
North Carolina State University, USA
Improved cadmium tolerance by reducing the Cd transport from vacuole to cytosol in tobacco leaves.
( Jia et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Henan Agricultural University
Xiamen University, China
Enhanced soybean aroma and functional marker for improving soybean flavor.
( Qian et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China
Zhejiang University of Technology
Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Altered protein composition due to mutations in seed storage proteins. Two major families of storage proteins, account for about 70% of total soy seed protein. Some major biochemical components influencing the quality of soy food products, for example tofu, are both the quantity and quality of storage proteins in soybean seeds.
( Li et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Western University
Harrow Research and Development Centre, Canada
Sun Yat-sen University
Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Minnan Normal University
China
Generation of seed lipoxygenase-free soybean. Lipoxygenases are responsible for an unpleasant beany flavor by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, restricting human consumption.
( Wang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, China
Increased soya bean isoflavone content and resistance to soya bean mosaic virus. Isoflavonoids play a critical role in plant-environment interactions and are beneficial to human health.
( Zhang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Agricultural University
Anhui Academy of Agricultural Science
Guangzhou University, China
High oleic, low linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid phenotype. High concentration of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids causes oxidative instability.
( Do et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Missouri, USA
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam
Reduced raffinose family oligosaccharide (RFO) levels in seeds. Human and other monogastric animals cannot digest major soluble carbohydrates, RFOs.
( Le et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam
University of Missouri, USA
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research
Germany
High oleic acid, low linoleic content.
( al Amin et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jilin Agricultural University, China
Low polyunsaturated fats content. Soybean oil is high in polyunsaturated fats and is often partially hydrogenated. The trans-fatty acids produced through hydrogenation pose a health threat.
( Haun et al., 2014 )
SDN1
TALENs
Cellectis plant sciences Inc., USA
High oleic and low linolenic oil to improve nutritional characteristics, increase shelf-life and frying stability.
( Demorest et al., 2016 )
SDN1
TALENs
Cellectis plant science Inc.
Calyxt, USA
Reduced amount of saturated fatty acids (FA) in soybean seeds for nutrititional improvement. FA are linked to cardiovascular diseases.
( Ma et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang University, China
La Trobe University, Australia
High levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in soybean seed oil. High MUFA content in vegetable oils can lead to significant health benefits and improve the oxidative stability, which are essential for both food usage and biodiesel (and other renewable resource) synthesis.
( Li et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northeast Agricultural University, China
Reduced content of trypsin inhibitors, one of the most abundant anti-nutritional factors in soybean seeds. Reduction of trypsin inhibitors leads to improved. digestibility of soybean meal.
( Wang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Virginia Tech, USA
Reduced levels of phytic acid (PA). PA has adverse effects on essential mineral absorption and thus is considered as an anti-nutritive for monogastric animals.
( Krishnan et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
Bharathidasan University, India
Improved fatty acid content: high oleic acid, decreased linoleic acid content to improve nutritional characteristics, increase shelf-life and frying stability.
(Zhang et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jilin Agricultural University, China
Reduced content of anti-nutritional factors in soybean seeds, leading to improved digestibility.
( Figliano et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
UEL - Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Portugal
Decreased storage-proteins, which allows improved forein protein production in seed.
( Ha et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Dong-A University
Korea
Reduced nicotine levels.
Nicotine is an addictive compound leading to severe diseases.
( Singh et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), India
Increased potassium concentrations (K+). Potassium is crucial for improving the quality of tobacco.
( Gao et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences/National Tobacco Genetic Engineering
Research Center
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Traits related to increased plant yield and growth

Improved high-density yield and drought/osmotic stress tolerance.
( Chen et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Texas Tech University, USA
Regulate shade avoidance. Soybean displays the classic shade avoidance syndrome (SAS), which leads to yield reduction and lodging under density farming conditions.
( Lyu et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jilin Agricultural University
Shandong Agricultural University
Northeast Agricultural University, China
Increasing the number of seeds per pod (NSPP), an important yield determinant.
( Cai et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
South China Agricultural University, China
Control flowering time, an important determinant for soybean yield and adaptation.
( Li et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guangzhou University
Agronomy College of Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University
Nanjing Agricultural University
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Late flowering. Photoperiod sensitivity limits geographical range of cultivation.
( Cai et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Enhanced photosynthesis and increases seed yield.
( Hu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Henan Institute of Science and Technology, China
Compact architecture with a smaller petiole angle than wild-type plants.
( Zhang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture
Xiamen University, China
Altered plant architecture to inrease yield: increased node number on the main stem and branch number.
(Bao et al., 2019)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Duy Tan University, Vietnam
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Japan
Increased nodule numbers. Soybean is a globally important crop for oil production and protein for human diet.
( Bai et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Nanchang University, China
Overexpression causes strongly promoted stem elongation, lower expression resulted in dwarf phenotype.
( Mu et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Enhanced performance of soybean under dense conditions.
( Ji et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Promoting nodulation: up-regulation of expression levels of genes involved in nodulation. Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic nodules strongly up regulate yield.
(Wang et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Beijing Institute of Technology
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Improved pod shattering resistance. Pod shattering has been a negatively selected trait in soybean domestication and breeding as it can lead to devastating yield loss of soybean.
( Zhang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University
Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, China
Reduction of soybean plant height and shortening of the internodes. The height of the soybean plant is a key trait that significantly impacts the yield.
( Cheng et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Guangzhou University
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Control flowering time, an important determinant for soybean yield and adaptation.
( Wang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Guangzhou University
Yunnan Agricultural University
Nanjing Agricultural University
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding of Hebei, China
Altered plant architecture to increase yield: more compact plant architecture.
(Kong et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Nanjing Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, China
Shorter flowering time and increased yield.
( Cheng et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jilin Normal University
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Shortened flowering time and maturity, determining their favourable latitudinal zone for cultivation.
( Gao et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd
Syngenta Seed Technology China Co., Ltd, China

Traits related to industrial utilization

Cytoplasmic male sterility.
( Chang et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Establishment of maternal haploid induction. Doubled haploid technology is used to obtain homozygous lines in a single generation. This technique significantly accelerates the crop breeding trajectory.
( Zhong et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Accumulate low levels of alkaloids. Nicotine is the most abundant alkaloid produced in tobacco plants. Switching to cigarettes containing levels of nicotine below the level of sustaining an addiction response will smoke less and/or find it easier to quit. Possibly, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may mandate such reductions in future cigarette products.
( Smith et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
North Carolina State University, USA
Generation of male sterility lines. Heterosis, the breeding result in which heterozygous hybrid progeny are superior to both homozygous parents, depends on the selection and application of male-sterile lines (MSL). Using MSL can reduce the production cost of hybrid seeds and improve its quality.
( Chen et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jilin Agricultural University
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Control photoperiodic flowering to allow adaptation of cultivars. Flowering time is a critical characteristic to determine the geographic distribution and regional adaptability of soybean.
( Wang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Glycoproteins without plant-specific glycans. Plants or plant cells can be used to produce pharmacological glycoproteins, for example antibodies or vaccines. However these proteins carry N-glycans with plant-typical residues [β(1,2)-xylose and core α(1,3)-fucose]. This plant-specific glycans can greatly impact the immunogenicity, allergenicity, or activity of the protein.
( Mercx et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Université catholique de Louvain
Université de Liège, Belgium
Nicotine-free tobacco.
( Schachtsiek et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
TU Dortmund University, Germany
Confer male and female sterility to prevent the risk of trasgene flow from transgenic plants to their wild relatives.
( Wu et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jilin Agricultural University
Zhejiang Lab, China

Traits related to herbicide tolerance

Chlorsulfuron
( Li et al., 2015 )
SDN2
CRISPR/Cas
DuPont Pioneer Agricultural Biotechnology, USA
Herbicide tolerance: resistance to AHAS-inhibiting herbicides.
(Wei et al., 2023)

BE
Nankai University
China Agricultural University, China

Traits related to product color/flavour

Brown seed-coat color.
( Jia et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Southern University of Science and Technology
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
South China Agricultural University, China
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
University of Missouri, USA