Dissecting molecular mechanisms related to blister blight resistance in tea: An EST approach

Blister blight (caused by Exobasidium vexans) is a destructive disease of tea (Camellia sinensis) in tea growing countries worldwide, that causes substantial losses. More than 10% of the transcripts were specifically induced in defence and/or signal transduction including master switch genes (transcription factors, kinases), R genes (NBS-LRR), phytohormone biosynthesis pathway genes, pathogenesis related genes and genes for antifungal peptides (chitinase, glucanase).