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Biochemical and molecular studies on the resistance mechanisms in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] against blister blight disease

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Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) plantations are exposed to biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the biotic factors, blister blight (BB), caused by Exobasidium vexans, affects the quality and quantity of the product and demands high fungicide application. A long term solution for disease resistance would require the knowledge of the basic molecular and biochemical changes occurring in plant as an attempt to resist the pathogen and limit the spread of the disease which can further help in developing resistant cultivars using biotechnological tools. Thus, gene expression studies using the cDNA based suppressive subtractive hybridization library, characterization of genes for pathogenesis related (PR) proteins [chitinase (CsCHIT), glucanase (CsGLUC), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (CsPAL)] and genes in flavonoid pathway were accessed in the BB resistant and susceptible cultivars, SA6 and TES34, respectively. Further, biochemical analysis of PR and antioxidant enzymes (POX, APX, SOD) involved in BB resistance have been carried out to investigate the potential molecular and biochemical changes. Various stages of pathogen development had varied impact on PR protein, flavonoid pathway and anti-oxidative enzymes and indicates the possible role of reactive oxygen species, lignins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and other synthesized compounds in acting as antimicrobial/antifungal agents in tea cultivars.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by Tea Board, Kolkata, India under the XI five year plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UPASI-Tea Research Foundation, Valparai, Tamil Nadu, 642127, India

    Sam Nirmala Nisha, Gajjeraman Prabu & Abul Kalam Azad Mandal

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed University), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641021, India

    Gajjeraman Prabu

  3. SBST, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632 014, India

    Abul Kalam Azad Mandal

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  1. Sam Nirmala Nisha
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  2. Gajjeraman Prabu
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  3. Abul Kalam Azad Mandal
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Correspondence to Abul Kalam Azad Mandal.

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Nisha, S.N., Prabu, G. & Mandal, A.K.A. Biochemical and molecular studies on the resistance mechanisms in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] against blister blight disease. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 24, 867–880 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-018-0565-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-018-0565-9

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