Advances in understanding the mechanism of resistance to anthracnose and induced defence response in tea plants

Abstract

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is susceptible to anthracnose disease that causes considerable crop loss and affects the yield and quality of tea. Multiple Colletotrichum spp. are the causative agents of this disease, which spreads quickly in warm and humid climates. During plant–pathogen interactions, resistant cultivars defend themselves against the hemibiotrophic pathogen by activating defence signalling pathways, whereas the pathogen suppresses plant defences in susceptible varieties. Various fungicides have been used to control this disease on susceptible plants, but these fungicide residues are dangerous to human health and cause fungicide resistance in pathogens. The problem‐solving approaches to date are the development of resistant cultivars and ecofriendly biocontrol strategies to achieve sustainable tea cultivation and production. Understanding the infection stages of Colletotrichum, tea plant resistance mechanisms, and induced plant defence against Colletotrichum is essential to support sustainable disease management practices in the field. This review therefore summarizes the current knowledge of the identified causative agent of tea plant anthracnose, the infection strategies and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides, anthracnose disease resistance mechanisms, and the caffeine‐induced defence response against Colletotrichum infection. The information reported in this review will advance our understanding of host–pathogen interactions and eventually help us to develop new disease control strategies.

Plant–pathogen interaction with root rot of Panax notoginseng as a model: Insight into pathogen pathogenesis, plant defence response and biological control

“…P. notoginseng growers have therefore used various chemical fungicides to effectively fight against pathogens and control this disease, but these chemical fungicides cause pollution problems affecting human health due to their residual toxicity and also can lead to the development of fungicide resistance in pathogens (Chen et al., 2019 ). A better solution would be the development of resistant cultivars combined with ecofriendly biocontrol strategies to assist plants to fight pathogens (Jeyaraj et al., 2023 ). However, there are currently no available resistant cultivars of P. notoginseng , which seriously hinders the development of P. notoginseng cultivation.…”

“…Although we currently have an in‐depth understanding of the interactions between model plants and pathogens, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, we are still at the beginning stage for non‐model plants (e.g., medicinal plants). Modern molecular biology techniques for the elucidation of plant–pathogen interactions and identification of disease‐resistance mechanisms and induced defence in P. notoginseng plants could be powerful approaches for crop improvement (Jeyaraj et al., 2023 ). Thus, understanding of the infection strategies and pathogenicity of the pathogen, plant–pathogen interactions and P. notoginseng defence response will provide new control strategies for P. notoginseng disease prevention and management.…”

Role of Antioxidant Molecules in the Oxidative Stress Response Networks in the Tangerine Pathotype of Alternaria alternata

“…Numerous biotic (living organisms) such as pathogenic attack, and abiotic (non-living environmental factors) stresses, such as oxidative stress, extreme temperatures, salinity, drought, and heavy metal stress are frequently encountered by plants [3,4]. In response, plants have evolved to develop intricate defense mechanisms including physical barriers, chemical defenses, cell wall fortification, hypersensitive response (HR), systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and phytohormone signaling to combat both biotic and abiotic stresses [5,6]. These defense systems involve the regulation of specific metabolic processes in response to environmental stresses, such as plant hormone regulation, glutathione accumulation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [4,7].…”