<i>CsUGT89A2</i> enhances tea plant resistance to <i>Toxoptera aurantia</i> by mediating flavonoid glycosides biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is a globally important crop but is severely threatened by Toxoptera aurantia infestations, which impact yield and safety. However, the response of tea plants to aphid feeding remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the feeding behavior of T. aurantia on different cultivars and identifies 'Huangjinya' and 'Qiancha 1' as susceptible and resistant cultivars, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CsUGT89A2 was significantly upregulated in response to T. aurantia infestation. In vitro biochemical assays demonstrated that CsUGT89A2 encodes a flavonoid 7-glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the conversion of flavonoids and UDP-glucose into flavonoid 7-O-glucosides. In vi

SUBMITTER: Zhou X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12577854 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature