Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technologies have revolutionized genome editing, significantly advancing the improvement of cultivated crop species. This review provides an overview of genome-edited crops that have either reached the market or received the necessary approvals but are not yet available to consumers. We analyze various genome-editing studies to understand the distribution of different genome-editing systems, the types of site-directed nucleases employed, and the geographical spread of these studies, with a specific focus on global and European contexts. Additionally, we examine the target crops involved. The review also outlines the multiple steps required for the legal acceptance of genome-edited crops within European jurisdictions. We conclude with suggestions for the future prospects of genome-editing research in Europe, aiming to streamline the approval process and enhance the development and adoption of genome-edited crops.

Pear (Pyrus communis L.) is a widely cultivated fruit tree species, valued for its significant economic impact and cultural relevance. The rise in commercial cultivars, characterized by genetic uniformity and high yield, is increasingly displacing traditional landraces. However, traditional varieties are highly adapted to local environmental conditions, having resulted from centuries of selection. In this study, 51 pear (Pyrus communis L.) accessions conserved in the Greek national germplasm collection were genotyped using eight SSR markers recommended by the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR). A total of 44 alleles were detected, including several private alleles, indicative of localized adaptation or potential genetic isolation. Analyses of population structure and genetic diversity, using Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), UPGMA clustering, and Bayesian inference via STRUCTURE, uncovered distinct genetic groupings within the collection. The results revealed moderate genetic variability among the 51 accessions and identified some accessions with significant genetic divergence. These findings underscore the importance of conserving Greek pear germplasm, as it represents an ideal source of desirable traits, such as stress tolerance and fruit quality, which can be utilized in breeding programs.

Garlic, an asexually propagated crop, exhibits significant variation in its commercial traits and bioactive compounds. Despite its horticultural significance, the genetic pool available for breeding strategies is limited. This study aimed to assess the existing diversity within a popular garlic landrace from the region of “Nea Vissa”, Evros, Greece, focusing on phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular variation. In particular, bulb morphology, nutritional content, and organosulfur profiles were evaluated, along with genetic characterization using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to analyze intra-specific genetic variation. Our results revealed three distinct genetic clusters with moderate to low intra-varietal diversity. Morphological and biochemical characterization showed significant intra-specific diversity in both bulb morphology and nutritional content. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis identified key volatile compounds, including allyl methyl disulfide and trisulfide, 1,2-dithiacyclopentene, cis-1-propenyl propyl disulfide, and cis-1-propenyl methyl disulfide in high abundances, suggesting that these were the predominant compounds characterizing the population. Our findings could be implemented to further enhance key phytonutrients in the local garlic population through breeding programs, targeting clones with high nutritional value and improved flavor and supporting germplasm conservation and utilization.

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is a small-grain cereal traditionally cultivated under low-input conditions, where locally adapted populations have contributed substantially to the maintenance of genetic diversity. Despite this importance, Greek rye germplasm has received limited attention at the molecular level. In the present study, 33 rye accessions, including gene bank landraces, locally cultivated populations and one commercial variety, were analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), start codon-targeted (SCoT), and exon-based amplified polymorphism (EBAP) markers. All three marker systems generated high proportions of polymorphic loci and comparable estimates of expected heterozygosity, indicating considerable genetic variability within the studied material. Multivariate analyses revealed moderate population structuring and consistently identified a small number of genetically divergent accessions, most notably T-492, K-163, and K-166. No clear clustering according to geographical origin was detected, as in most cases of landraces or local populations. Taken together, the results provide a detailed molecular overview of Greek rye germplasm—which has never been performed before for Greek rye genetic material—and offer a useful basis for conservation priorities and future pre-breeding efforts.

Vegetable crops are of fundamental nutritional and economic importance worldwide, yet their improvement through conventional breeding remains time consuming and constrained by genomic complexity. For that reason, over the period 2020–2026, CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, a new genomic technique (NGT), has emerged as the leading tool for precise, rapid and targeted modification of vegetable crop genomes. In this review, we summarize selected peer-reviewed studies on CRISPR/Cas applications across a broad range of vegetable species. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) are the most edited species with the CRISPR/Cas system, with tomato being at the forefront, while other crops such as cucumber, watermelon, Brassica species, pepper, eggplant and lettuce, follow. We studied eight trait categories that have been improved, namely biotic stress resistance, abiotic stress resistance, yield and growth regulation, food/feed quality modification, color/flavor modification, storage conditions, herbicide resistance and industrial utilization. Out of these, biotic stress resistance is the most actively targeted category across both tomato and potato, with viral, fungal, bacterial and oomycete pathogens being addressed through the editing of host susceptibility genes. Some advances include editing SlDMR6-1 and DMR6 orthologs to confer broad-spectrum disease resistance, multiplex editing of the MLO gene family to achieve powdery mildew resistance, the utilization of the CRISPR/Cas13 system to confer resistance in RNA viruses in potato, and the engineering of drought-tolerant and quality-improved varieties across multiple species. Finally, the regulatory landscape for genome-edited products in the European Union is currently evolving with efforts to distinguish them from genome-modified products and drive further growth for the field.