Multi-omics analysis of molecular mechanisms driving the grafting- enhanced resistance of tea plants to Colletotrichum camelliae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The fungal pathogen Colletotrichum camelliae causes a devastating disease that severely limits tea plant (Camellia sinensis) yield and quality. Grafting onto resistant rootstocks offers a sustainable control strategy, yet resistant rootstocks confer scion protection remains obscure.

Methods

Susceptible cultivar 'Qianmei 818' was grafted onto resistant 'Qianmei 419'. Profiled systemic defenses using integrated RNA-seq, sRNA-seq, and metabolomics, complemented by phytohormone and defense-enzyme assays and qRT-PCR validation.

Results

Hetero-grafting conferred near-complete resistance, reducing lesion diameters by 98.71% compared to ungrafted controls, with elevated PAL activity and accumulation of IAA, GA3, and MeSA. Multi-omics analyses identifi

SUBMITTER: Li YX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847328 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature