ROS mediated response in blister blight disease compatibility of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

ABSTRACT

Blister blight, caused by the basidiomycete Exobasidium vexans infecting on the young leaves and shoots, influence greatly in the production and quality of tea. In-planta metabolic regulations vary with the stress tolerance aptitude of the genotypes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), secondary metabolites, and antioxidative enzymes are among such parameters that have a significant impact in conferring tolerance. In situ ROS accumulation, oxidative damage, and subsequent enzymatic and non-enzymatic indicators in tender leaves of two each of susceptible (Happy Valley-39, Tukdah-78) and tolerant genotypes (Amberi valai-2, Phoobsering-312) were considered. The tolerant genotypes exhibited higher ROS, lipid peroxidation, and total protein content compared to the sensitive ones. Oxidative responses enumerate in terms of superoxide anion (O₂⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde, triggered activity of stress-responsive enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase. Non-enzymatic secondary metabolites, especially flavonols were observed to be augmented in the sensitive genotypes.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidants
• blister blight
• ROS
• secondary metabolites
• tea

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the respective authority of Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre for providing necessary permissions regarding field sampling.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Contribution

AH carried out the laboratory experiments, analyzed data, and written the manuscript draft. JSG took part in laboratory experiments; CS and SD conceptualized and supervised the study.