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 49 results

Traits related to biotic stress tolerance

Bacterial resistance: Strong resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae, causing bacterial blight, a devastating rice disease resulting in yield losses.
(Wang et al., 2017)
SDN1
TALENs
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Rapid detection of toxigenic Fusarium verticillioides, a phytopathogenic fungus that causes Fusarium ear and stalk rot and poses a threat to maize yields. This accurate and portable detection equipment has great potential for detection of the pathogen, even in areas lacking proper lab equipment.
( Liang et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Institute of Food Science and Technology
North Minzu University
School of Food Science and Engineering, China
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Belgium
Fungal resistance: Resistance to pathogen Colletotrichum truncatum, causing anthracnose, a major disease accounting for significant pre- and post-harvest yield losses.
(Mishra et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Centurion University of Technology and Management
Siksha O Anusandhan University
Rama Devi Women'
s University, India
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
Resistance to parasitic weed: Phelipanche aegyptiaca. The obligate root parasitic plant causes great damages to important crops and represents one of the most destructive and greatest challenges for the agricultural economy.
(Bari et al., 2021)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Central University of Punjab, India
Newe Ya’ar Research Center
Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Israel
Bacterial resistance: Plant moderately resistant against a strain of the gram-negative bacterium, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Xoo severely impacts rice productivity by causing bacterial leaf blight disease.
(Bhagya Sree et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
Viral resistance: resistance to rice tungro disease (RTD), the most important viral disease that limits rice production.
(Kumam et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, India
Viral resistance: increased resistance to infection with the potato virus Y (PVY) and tolerance to salt and osmotic stress. PVY is one of the most economically important potato pathogens
(Makhotenko et al., 2019)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Russia Moscow State University, Russia
Doka Gene Technologies Ltd, USA
Fungal resistance: strong resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), which causes Fusarium Wilt Disease in tomato.
(Debbarma et al., 2023)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
Assam Agricultural University
Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute
International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, India
Bacterial resistance: Resistance/moderately resistance against Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo). BLB is a major constraint in rice production.
(Arulganesh et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

Traits related to abiotic stress tolerance

Drought and salt tolerance.
( Kumar et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Bhartidasan University, India
Reduced arsenic content. Arsenic accumulation in rice poses a threat to human health.
( Singh et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, India
Drought tolerance.
( Njuguna et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
Center for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
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

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
Increased iron content in potato plants. Iron is an essential micronutrient.
( Chauhan et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Panjab University
Panjab University
National Institute of Plant Genome Research, India
University of Minnesota, USA
Improved kafirin digestibility, which increases the grain nutritional value.
( Elkonin et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Federal Centre of Agriculture Research of South-East Region
Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics – Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
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
Generation of beta-carotene-enriched banana fruits. Carotenoids, the source of pro vitamin A, are an essential component of dietary antioxidants. Low intakes and poor bioavailability of provitamine A from the vegetarian diet are considered the main reasons for the widespread prevalence of Vitamine A deficiency.
( Kaur et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India)
Panjab University, India
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
Increased amylose content. Cereals high in amylose content (AC) and resistant starch (RS) offer potential health benefits and reduce risks of diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and certain colon and rectum cancers.
( Sun et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
University of California, USA
University of Liege, Belgium
Improved aleurone layer with enhanced grain protein content. Improved grain nutritional quality by improved accumulation of essential dietary minerals (Fe, Zn, K, P, Ca) in the endosperm of rice grain. Improved root and shoot architecture.
( Achary et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, India
Amylose-free tubers.
( Abeuova et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Center for Biotechnology (NCB)
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Fragrant rice. Introduction of aroma into any non-aromatic rice varieties.
( Ashokkumar et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
Slender grains in bold grain varieties.
( Shanthinie et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
Seeds low in glucosinolate content and other plant parts high in glucosinolate levels. Glucosinolates are anti-nutrients that can cause reduced performance and impairment of kidney and liver functions of livestock, they also play a role in plant defence.
( Mann et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Institute of Plant Genome Research
University of Delhi South Campus, India
Reduced levels of very long chain saturated fatty acids in kernels, which are associated with revalance of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
( Huai et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
International Crops Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India
Murdoch University, Australia
Increased amylose content in the seeds, thus a lower Glycemic Index (GI) value. Low GI rice is preferred to avoid a sudden rise in glucose in the bloodstream. Starch with a high GI threatens healthy individuals to get diabetes type II and proves extremely harmful for existing diabetes type II patients.
( Jameel et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Jamia Millia Islamia
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, India
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Improved digestibility of kafirins, which increases the grain nutritional value.
( Elkonin et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Federal Centre of Agriculture Research of South-East Region
Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Russia

Traits related to increased plant yield and growth

Confer shoot architectural changes for increased resource inputs to increase crop yield.
( Stanic et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Calgary, Canada
SRM Institute of Technology, India
Production of enlarged, dome-shaped leaves. Enlarged fruits with increased pericarp thickness due to cell expansion.
( Swinnen et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
Center for Plant Systems Biology, Vives, Belgium
Université de Bordeaux, France
Increased stomatal density, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate. Fine tuning the stomatal traits can enhance climate resilience in crops.
( Rathnasamy et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Sugarcane Breeding Institute, India
Control grain size and seed coat color.
( Tra et al., 2021 )

BE
International Rice Research Institute, Philippines
Dahlem Center of Plant Sciences Freie Universität, Germany
Synthetic Biology, Biofuel and Genome Editing R&
D Reliance Industries Ltd, India
Delayed onset of ripening.
( Nizampatnam et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Hyderabad
SRM University-AP, India
Improves complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance.
( Lorenzo et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Center for Plant Systems Biology
Ghent University
Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Belgium

Traits related to industrial utilization

Jointless tomatoes. Pedicel abscission is an important agronomic factor that controls yield and post-harvest fruit quality. In tomato, floral stems that remain attached to harvested fruits during picking mechanically damage the fruits during transportation, decreasing the fruit quality for fresh-market tomatoes and the pulp quality for processing tomatoes.
( Roldan et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), France
University of Liège, Belgium
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
Genetic variability. The genetically reprogrammed rice plants can act as donor lines to stabilize important agronomic traits or can be a potential resource to create more segregating population.
( K et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Agricultural Sciences
Regional Centre for Biotechnology, India
Doubled haploids with increased leaf size. Doubled haploid technology is used to obtain homozygous lines in a single generation. This technique significantly accelerates the crop breeding trajectory.
( Impens et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ghent University
VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology
Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 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
Confer male and female sterility to prevent the risk of trasgene flow from transgenic plants to their wild relatives.
( Shinoyama et al., 2020 )
SDN1
TALENs
Fukui Agricultural Experiment Station
Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Yokohama City University, Japan
Altai State University, Russia
Induction of haploid plants and a reduced seed set for rice breeding.
( Yao et al., 2018 )
SDN2
CRISPR/Cas
ZhongGuanCun Life Science Park, China
Syngenta India Limited
Technology Centre
Medchal Mandal, India
Syngenta Crop Protection
LLC
Research Triangle Park, USA
Haploid induction to accelerate breeding in crop plants.
( Rangari et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Punjab Agricultural University, India
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
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

Traits related to herbicide tolerance

Glyphosate & hppd inhibitor herbicides, for example tembotrione
( D'Halluin et al., 2013 )
SDN2
CRISPR/Cas
Bayer CropScience N.V, Belgium

Traits related to product color/flavour

Albino phenotype.
( Kaur et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), India
Albino phenotype.
( Phad et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Plant Biotechnology Research Center, India

Traits related to storage performance

Enhanced oleic acid to linoleic acid ratio. This adjusted ratio can improve the shelf life of peanut oil.
( Rajyaguru et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Junagadh Agricultural University, India