Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 30-39 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 30 Feature Review Open Access Molecular Mechanisms of Tea Plant Resistance to Major Pathogens Dandan Huang Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: 3196820059@qq.com Molecular Pathogens, 2024, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0004 Received: 06 Dec., 2023 Accepted: 20 Jan., 2024 Published: 09 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 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: Huang D.D., 2024, Molecular mechanisms of tea plant resistance to major pathogens, Molecular Pathogens, 15(1): 30-39 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0004) Abstract Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important beverage and cash crop in the world. Its disease resistance research is of great significance to the sustainable development of the global tea industry. This study outlines the main pathogen categories that affect tea trees and details the resistance (R) genes, pathogen recognition mechanisms and genetic maps in tea trees. The existence and function of resistance (R) genes play a central role in plant disease resistance. Through genomic analysis and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, we have a deeper understanding of the genetic map of these R genes. The study of pathogen recognition mechanisms has also revealed a series of receptor proteins that can recognize pathogens and activate subsequent immune responses. This study also explores the interaction between pathogen effectors and host targets, the host's defense response, and how genome sequencing, CRISPR gene editing technology and transgenic methods are used to promote tea disease management, aiming to enhance tea disease resistance through scientific research and support the sustainable development of the global tea industry. Keywords Tea plant disease resistance; Signaling pathways; Resistance genes; Secondary metabolites; Molecular interactions 1 Introduction Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a globally significant crop, widely consumed as a beverage and valued for its economic importance. However, tea plants are susceptible to a variety of pathogens, which can severely impact yield and quality. Major diseases affecting tea plants include anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichumspecies, tea geometrid damage by Ectropis oblique, tea gray blight caused by Pestalotiopsis theae, and blister blight caused by Exobasidium vexans (Wang et al., 2015; 2018; Zhang et al., 2022). These diseases can lead to substantial crop losses, necessitating a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tea plant resistance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat these diseases. Resistance mechanisms in tea plants involve complex interactions between various signaling pathways, including those mediated by salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Wang et al., 2018; Jin et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2023a). Identifying key genes and pathways involved in these responses can inform breeding programs and genetic engineering efforts aimed at enhancing disease resistance in tea plants. For instance, the role of hypersensitive response (HR) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation in anthracnose resistance, and the involvement of specific genes like CsUGT87E7 in SA metabolism, highlight the intricate defense strategies employed by tea plants (Jayaswall et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2021). By synthesizing findings from recent transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome studies, this study seeks to elucidate key signaling pathways and genes in tea plant defense against various pathogens, emphasize the role of phytohormones and secondary metabolites in mediating resistance, and discuss the potential application of these insights in developing disease-resistant tea varieties through breeding and biotechnological approaches. By achieving these goals, this study will contribute to a broader understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and support the development of sustainable disease management practices in tea cultivation. 2 Major Pathogens Affecting Tea Plants 2.1 Fungal pathogens Fungal pathogens are among the most common and destructive agents affecting tea plants. One of the primary
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