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

Displaying 66 results

Traits related to increased plant yield and growth

Early flowering. Day-light sensitivity limited the geographical range of cultivation.
( Soyk et al., 2016 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Germany
Université Paris-Scalay, France
Altered branch and petiole angles.
( Kangben et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Clemson University
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Cotton incorporated, USA
Promoted rice growth and productivity.
( Miao et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Purdue University, USA
Semi-dwarf phenotype and compact architecture to increase yield. Plant height and branch angle are the major architectural factors determining yield.
( Fan et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China
Wilkes University, USA
Increased total kernel number or kernel weight.
( Kelliher et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Research Triangle Park
University of Georgia, USA
Syngenta Crop Protection, The Netherlands
Haploid induction to accelerate breeding in crop plants.
( Kelliher et al., 2017 )
SDN1
TALENs
Syngenta Seeds, USA
Combine agronomically desirable traits with useful traits present in wild lines. Threefold increase in fruit size and a tenfold increase in fruit number. Fruit lycopene accumulation is improved by 500% compared with the widely cultivated S. lycopersicum.
( Zsögön et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Universidade de São Paulo Paulo, Brazil
University of Minnesota, USA
Universität Münster, Germany
Increase in 1000-grain weight, grain area, grain width, grain length, plant height, and spikelets per spike.
( Errum et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)
PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture (PIASA)
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Pakistan
Rapid improvement of domestication traits and genes that control plant architecture, flower production and fruit size. Major productivity traits are improved in an orphan crop.
( Lemmon et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor
The Boyce Thompson Institute
Cornell University, USA
Increased yield under different environmental conditions: well-watered, drought, normal nitrogen and low nitrogen field conditions and at multiple geographical locations.
(Wang et al., 2020)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sinobioway Bio-Agriculture Group Co.
Ltd
Corteva Agriscience
Johnston, USA
Bigger seedlings.
( Lor et al., 2014 )
SDN1
TALENs
University of Minnesota, USA
Enhanced grain yield and semi-dwarf phenotype by manipulating brassinosteroid signal pathway.
( Song et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit, USA
Increased yield.
( Zhou et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Xichang University, China
University of Maryland, USA
Improve plant architecture to increase yield. Plant height and branch number are directly correlated with yield.
( Zheng et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ministry of Agriculture, China
Wilkes University, USA
Conferred lodging resistance. Tef is a staple food, and valuable cash crop in Ethiopia. Lodging is a major limitation to its production.
( Beyene et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Corteva Agriscience
Michigan State University, USA
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia
Improve biomass yield and salinity tolerance.
( Guan et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University
Shandong institute of agricultural sustainable development
Beijing Sure Academy of Biosciences, China
Oklahoma State University, USA
Increase in floral organ number or fruit size, conferring enhanced tomato fruit yield.
( Rodriguez-Leal et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Dwarf phenotype.
( Lawrenson et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Norwich Research Park, UK
Murdoch University, USA
Early flowering under long day conditions of higher latitudes to spread production of maize over a broad range of latitudes rapidly.
( Huang et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Wisconsin, USA
Improved nitrogen use efficiency.
( Li et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
University of California, USA
Increased bending strength. Stalk lodging, which is generally determined by stalk strength, results in considerable yield loss and has become a primary threat to maize yield under high-density planting.
( Zhang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China Agricultural University, China
Iowa State University, USA
Semi-dwarf phenotype. High varieties are challenged by weak lodging and damages caused by storms, dwarf varieties are suitable for mechanized plant maintenance and fruit harvesting.
( Shao et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Hunan Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
University of Florida, USA
Altered tree architecture, exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes: including differences in branch angle and stem growth.
(Dutt et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Florida, USA
Mansoura University, Egypt
Bushy phenotype and increased tiller production.
( Liu et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Iowa State University, USA
Plant development. Phenotypes consistent with increased GA response: tall and slender with light green vegetation.
(Lor et al., 2014)
SDN1
TALENs
University of Minnesota, USA
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Dwarf phenotype. Tomatoes with compact growth habits and reduced plant height can be useful in some environments.
( Tomlinson et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Norwich Research Park, UK
University of Minnesota, USA
Increased grain yield under field drought stress conditions and no yield loss under well-watered conditions.
( Shi et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
DuPont Pioneer, USA
Improved field performance: higher yield, producing on average 5.5 bushels per acre more. Waxy corn.
(Gao et al., 2020)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Corteva Agriscience, USA
Increases size of starch granules. Granule size is a key parameter for industrial processing. Larger granules may increase yield during processing and it has been shown in sweet potato that smaller starch granules degrade faster than large granules, so larger granule tubers may be beneficial for storage.
( Pfotenhauer et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Tennessee, USA
Increased plant yield due to architectural changes. Leaf inclination: maize plants with upright leaves can be planted at higher densities without shading.
(Brekke et al., 2011)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Iowa State University, USA
Increased fruit size. Highly branched inflorescence and formation of multiple flowers.
( Rodri­guez-Leal et al., 2017 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Increased tiller number.
( Awan et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan
Altering leaf inclination angle which has the potential to elevate yield in high-density plantings.
( Brant et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Florida
DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, USA
Kastamonu University, Turkey
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
Faster seedling growth.
( Zhou et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Maryland, USA
Increased grain size and modulated shoot architecture.
( Miao et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Zhejiang A&
F University
Nanchang University
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Purdue University, USA
High temperature germination. Large increases in the maximum temperature for seed germination to allow for the cultivation of the crop in production areas with higher temperature.
( Bertier et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of California, USA
Shortened plant architecture and jointless pedicel without affecting the yield. This plant architecture can allow ground cultivation systems that do not require the support of stakes and ties and could be ultimately suitable for once-over mechanical harvesting.
( Lee et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Florida, USA
Enhancing grain-yield-related traits by increases in meristem size
( Liu et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor
University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Enhanced photosynthesis.
( Caddell et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS)
University of California at Berkeley
Utah State University
Texas A&
M University, USA
Customize tomato cultivars for urban agriculture: increased compactness and decreased growth cycle of tomato plants.
(Kwon et al., 2020)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cornell University
University of Florida, USA
Wonkwang University, South Korea
Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Altered root architecture with increased tillers and total grain weight.
( Rahim et al., 2023 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Quaid-e-Azam University
National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)
The University of Haripur, Pakistan
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Nile University
Ain Shams University, Egypt
Chonnam National University, South Korea
Increased grain weight and grain size. Carbohydrate and total protein levels also increased.
( Guo et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sichuan Agricultural University, China
University of California, USA
Early flowering and maturity. Flowering time (heading date) is an important trait for crop yield and cultivation.
( Wang et al., 2020 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Sinobioway Bio-Agriculture Group, Co., China
Corteva™ Agriscience, USA

Traits related to industrial utilization

Stem wood discoloration due to lignin reduction.
( Zhou et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of Georgia, USA
Bio-fuel production: Reduced lignin content, improves cell wall composition for production of bio-ethanol.
(Jung et al., 2016)
SDN1
TALENs
Korea University, South Korea
University of Florida, USA
Asexual propagation trough seeds. Induction of apomeiosis, mitosis instead of meiosis. This proces leads to the production of genetically identical seeds, serving many applications in plant breeding.
( Khanday et al., 2019 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of California
Innovative Genomics Institute
Iowa State University, USA
Université Paris-Saclay, France
Enhanced biological nitrogen fixation to reduce the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. Enhanced biofilm formation of soil diazotrophic bacteria by modified root microbiome structure.
( Yan et al., 2022 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of California
Bayer Crop Science, USA
Trait stacking. Modern agriculture demands crops carrying multiple traits.
( Ainley et al., 2013 )
SDN1
ZFN
Dow AgroSciences LLC
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., USA
Generating male sterility lines (MLS). Using MLS in hybrid seed production for monoclinous crops reduces costs and ensures high purity of the varieties because it does not produce pollen and has exserted stigmas.
( Svitashev et al., 2015 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
DuPont Pioneer, USA
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
Early heading: in regions with short growing seasons, early maturing varieties to escape frost damage are required.
(Sohail et al., 2022)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
China National Rice Research Institute
Northern Center of China National Rice Research Institute
Zhejiang A&
F University, China
Mir Chakar Khan Rind University
Agriculture Research System Khyber, Pakistan
Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Center, Egypt
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
Hairy root transformation. Hairy roots play a role in multiple processes, ranging from recombinant protein production and metabolic engineering to analyses of rhizosphere physiology and biochemistry.
( Ron et al., 2014 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
University of California
Emory University, USA
University of Cambridge, UK
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
Conversion of hulled into naked barley.
( Gasparis et al., 2018 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
National Research Institute
Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Poland
Rapid generation of male sterile (MS) bread wheat. MS is an important tool in creating hybrid crop varieties that provide a yield advantage over traditional varieties by harnessing heterosis.
( Singh et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
DuPont Pioneer, USA
Generate self-compatible diploid potato lines for the application of efficient breeding methods.
( Enciso-Rodriguez et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Michigan State University, USA
Male sterility.
( Djukanovic et al., 2013 )

I-CreI
DuPont/Pioneer Agricultural Biotechnology
Precision Biosciences, USA
Rubber biosynthesis. To accelerate the domestication of Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TK), a plant notable for its ability to produce high molecular weight rubber in its roots and which might be an alternative source of natural rubber.
( Iaffaldano et al., 2016 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, USA
Reduced lignin content and S (syringyl lignin)/G (guaiacyl lignin) (S/G) ratio alteration to reduce cell wall recalcitrance and improve bioethanol production. Lignin is a major component of secondary cell walls and contributes to the recalcitrance problem during fermentation.
( Park et al., 2021 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
BioEnergy Science Center
University of Tennessee, USA
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
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
Enhanced oil accumulation in the seed.
( Cai et al., 2024 )
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Stony Brook University
Montana State University, USA
Bio-fuel production: Reduced lignin content and improved sugar release.
(Park et al., 2017)
SDN1
CRISPR/Cas
Noble Research Institute, USA
Bioethanol production: Improved saccharification efficiency without compromising biomass yield.
(Kannan et al., 2017)
SDN1
TALENs
University of Florida
Novozymes North America Inc, USA
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), South Korea