A New Approach for CRISPR/Cas9 Editing and Selection of Pathogen-Resistant Plant Cells of Wine Grape cv. 'Merlot'.

Grape is one of the most economically significant berry crops. Owing to the biological characteristics of grapes, such as the long juvenile period (5-8 years), high degree of genome heterozygosity, and the frequent occurrence of inbreeding depression, homozygosity during crossbreeding leads to loss of varietal characteristics and viability. CRISPR/Cas editing has become the tool of choice for improving elite technical grape varieties.