Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 225-237 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 225 Research Insight Open Access Genomic Insights into Tea Plant Immunity: Identifying Resistance Genes JieZhang1 , Baofu Huang2 1 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of. Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Chinese Traditional Medicine Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: jie.zhang@jicat.org Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.4 doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0021 Received: 20 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 15 Jul., 2024 Published: 18 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhang and Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhang J., and Huang B.F., 2024, Genomic insights into tea plant immunity: identifying resistance genes, Journal of Tea Science Research, 14(4): 225-237 (doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0021) Abstract The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a globally important economic crop, and its immune mechanisms play a crucial role in ensuring tea yield and quality. This study focuses on tea plant immunity, systematically exploring the identification and functions of disease-resistance genes. The findings reveal that disease-resistance genes in tea plants are primarily concentrated in the nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) family, as well as related genes such as receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and receptor-like proteins (RLPs). These genes activate the tea plant immune system by recognizing pathogen effector proteins, providing critical defense against fungi, bacteria, and viruses. This study enhances the understanding of tea plant immune mechanisms and offers a theoretical foundation for developing new tea plant varieties with strong disease resistance and high adaptability. In the future, further integration of multi-omics data and artificial intelligence analysis is expected to facilitate the discovery of novel disease-resistance genes and optimize strategies for breeding disease-resistant tea plants. Keywords Tea plant (Camellia sinensis); Resistance genes; Plant immunity; Transcriptome analysis; microRNAs; NLR genes; Disease resistance 1 Introduction The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is a globally significant cash crop, renowned for producing one of the world's most consumed beverages—tea. This plant is not only vital for its economic value but also for its cultural and social importance across various regions. The cultivation of tea plants spans numerous countries, with China being a leading producer and researcher in this field. The tea plant's leaves are rich in essential compounds that contribute to the unique flavor and health benefits of tea, making it a critical subject of agricultural and biochemical research (Chen et al., 2023). Disease resistance is paramount for maintaining the productivity and quality of tea plants. Pathogens and pests pose significant threats to tea cultivation, leading to substantial economic losses and reduced crop yields. Enhancing disease resistance in tea plants is crucial for sustainable tea production, ensuring the stability of supply and the economic viability of tea farming communities (Xia et al., 2020). Understanding and improving the genetic basis of disease resistance can help mitigate these challenges and promote healthier, more resilient tea crops. Plant immunity involves a complex network of defense mechanisms that protect against pathogens. Central to this defense system are resistance (R) genes, which encode proteins that recognize specific pathogen effectors and trigger immune responses. These R genes play a critical role in the plant's ability to detect and respond to infections, thereby conferring resistance to a wide range of diseases. In tea plants, the identification and functional analysis of R genes are essential for developing disease-resistant varieties and improving overall plant health (Xia et al., 2020). This study aims to provide comprehensive genomic insights into the immunity of tea plants by identifying and characterizing resistance genes. By leveraging advanced genomic technologies and bioinformatics tools, this study seeks to uncover the genetic basis of disease resistance in Camellia sinensis. The findings will contribute to the
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