Transcriptome analysis of Camellia sinensis infected by Didymella segeticola

Didymella segeticola (Basionym: Phoma segeticola) is a pathogen that causes leaf spot on tea plant (Camellia sinensis), and causes decline in both tea leaves' quality and production accordingly. Tea plant have been widely grown in Guizhou province, China and the cultivation area in the region ranks first among all the provinces or cities in China. Tea leaf spot caused by D. segeticola was firstly found in Shiqian county, Guizhou Province, and then identified by our research group. The disease widely occurred at the tea plantation with higher altitude, the season of cold spell in later spring. By analysis the RNA sequencing differences between Camellia sinensis infected by D. segeticola can help us understand the pathogenesis mechanism of D. segeticola, and further prevent and control tea leaf spot caused by this pathogen in the field.