Regurgitant Derived From the Tea Geometrid Ectropis obliqua Suppresses Wound-Induced Polyphenol Oxidases Activity in Tea Plants

Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) have been reported to play an important role in protecting plants from attack by herbivores. However, little is known about their role in tea. Here, we investigated the effect of PPOs on interactions between tea plants and the tea geometrid Ectropis obliqua, one of the most important insect pests of tea. Jasmonic acid (JA) treatment resulted in increases in PPO activity, and the effect of JA was dose dependent. Ectropis obliqua caterpillars grew and developed more slowly on JA-treated tea plants than on control plants, and larval weight gains depended on the JA dosage. Artificial diet complemented with PPOs reduced the growth and survival rate of E. obliqua caterpillars, and there was a negative relationship between PPO level and larval growth and survival. Unlike mechanical wounding, which is an effective inducer of tea plant PPO activity, wounding plus the herbivore regurgitant or herbivore infestation suppressed the wound-induced PPO activities, especially at 4 days after treatment. These results suggest that PPOs are an important anti-herbivore factor in tea plants, defending them against E. obliqua larvae, and that E. obliqua larvae have evolved to elude the tea plant’s defense by inhibiting the production of PPOs.     

Sensitivity of antennae of male and femaleIps paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to its pheromone and other behavior-modifying chemicals

The antennal sensitivities of both male and femaleIps paraconfusus were found generally to be greatest for conspecific aggregation pheromones (ipsdienol, ipsenol); intermediate for an additional conspecific pheromone (cis-verbenol), an aggregation synergist (2-phenylethanol), and pheromones/allomones of sympatric species (trans-verbenol, verbenone, and frontalin); and lowest for both host terpenes (alpha-pinene and myrcene) and other bark beetle-produced odorants (exo-brevicomin and linalool). Of the enantiomeric compounds tested, antennae of both sexes did not differ in sensitivity between thetrans-verbenol enantiomers at low dosage levels; but at higher dosages, the conspecific-produced enantiomer, (1R,4S,5R)-(+)-trans-verbenol, elicited larger mean EAG responses than its antipode, (1S,4R, 5S)-(?)-trans-verbenol. At the mid-dosage range, female antennae tended to be slightly more responsive to (S)-(?)-verbenone than to (R)-(+)-verbenone, while male antennae were equally responsive to stimulations by either verbenone enantiomer. In field bioassays there was a large and significant reduction in trap catches ofI. paraconfusus on traps where the (S)-(?)- or (R)-(+)-enantiomers of verbenone were evaporated beside logs containing boring conspecific males. Only when the (S)-(?)-enantiomer of verbenone was evaporated beside logs containing boring males did the sex ratio ofI. paraconfusus trapped shift from female-dominated to male-dominated attraction. Thus both physiological and behavioral data suggest a differential chiral sensitivity of female beetles for the verbenone enantiomers. The relative sensitivities between different chiral compounds derived from one or the other of the common precursoral host terpenes, (S)-(?)- and (R)-(+)alpha-pinene or myrcene, are discussed.     

Secondary attraction and field activity of beetle-produced volatiles inDendroctonus terebrans

Controlled infestation ofDendroctonus terebrans (Olivier) on bolts of slash pine,Pinus ellionii Engelm. var.elliottii, elicited greater attraction of wild conspecifics than uninfested bolts. Secondary attraction was not apparent, however, to standing slash pines that had received volunteer attacks, when compared with attraction to unattacked but susceptible trees. Hindguts from in-flight or attacking femaleD. terebrans contained frontalin, and those from in-flight or attacking males containedexo-brevicomin.Trans-pinocarveol,cis-verbenol,trans-verbenol, myrtenal, verbenone, myrtenol, and other compounds were produced by both sexes during gallery construction in host trees. Synthetic frontalin, when deployed with a standard host odor mixture of turpentine and ethanol, was very attractive to maleD. terebrans in field-trapping experiments. The addition of eitherexo-brevicomin orendo-brevicomin to the frontalin-turpentine combination negated the attractive effect of frontalin for males.Trans-verbenol, myrtenol, and verbenone had little effect onD. terebrans behavior. Responses of females did not differ among treatments in any of the 11 field experiments.     

The Tea Weevil, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myllocerinus aurolineatus</Emphasis>, is Attracted to Volatiles Induced by Conspecifics

The tea weevil, Myllocerinus aurolineatus (Voss) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a leaf-feeding pest of Camellia sinensis (O.Ktze.) with aggregative behaviors that can seriously reduce tea yield and quality. Although herbivore-induced host plant volatiles have been shown to attract conspecific individuals of some beetle pests, especially members of the Chrysomelidae family, little is known about the volatiles emitted from tea plants infested by M. aurolineatus adults and their roles in mediating interactions between conspecifics. The results of behavioral bioassays revealed that volatile compounds emitted from tea plants infested by M. aurolineatus were attractive to conspecific weevils. Volatile analyses showed that infestations dramatically increased the emission of volatiles, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, (E)-β-ocimene, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol, benzyl nitrile, indole, (E, E)-α-farnesene, (E)-nerolidol, and 31 other compounds. Among the induced volatiles, 12 chemicals, including γ-terpinene, benzyl alcohol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, myrcene, benzaldehyde, (Z)-3-hexenal, and (E, E)-α-farnesene, elicited antennal responses from both sexes of the herbivore, whereas (E)-β-ocimene elicited antennal responses only from males. Using a Y-tube olfactometer, we found that six of the 13 chemicals, γ-terpinene, benzyl alcohol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, myrcene, benzaldehyde, and (Z)-3-hexenal, were attractive to both males and females; two chemicals, (E/Z)-β-ocimene and (E, E)-α-farnesene, were attractive only to males; and four chemicals, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, phenylethyl alcohol, linalool, and (Z)-3-hexenol, were attractive only to females. The findings provide new insights into the interactions between tea plants and their herbivores, and may help scientists develop new strategies for controlling the herbivore.     

Highly Site-Selective Epoxidation of Polyene Catalyzed by Metal–Organic Frameworks Assisted by Polyoxometalate

Ectropis obliqua Prout is one of the most severe defoliator insects of tea plants. Sex pheromones method has been widely used for monitoring and controlling the insect pest of E. obliqua Prout due to their relative safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, conventional preparing sex pheromones of E. obliqua Prout has been criticized by the costly and/or low efficiency procedure. Herein, we report a series of Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the site-selective epoxidation of 3Z,6Z,9Z-octadecatriene to its monoepoxides. Particularly, MIL-100(Fe) combined with polyoxometalate (POM) as cocatalyst appears as the best catalyst for the oxidation of 3Z,6Z,9Z-octadecatriene to a high site selectivity to the corresponding 6,7-epoxide with good yields. 3Z,6Z,9Z-octadecatriene and its corresponding 6,7-epoxide are the primary sex pheromone components of the E. obliqua Prout. Significantly, the field bioassay experiments showed that the mixed products were highly effective in attracting E. obliqua Prout male moths. This work provides a general method to fast and clean synthesis of sex pheromones and opens new avenues for the application of Fe-based MOFs in the pest control with environmental friendliness.     

Sitona lineatus Host-Plant Odors and Their Components: Effect on Locomotor Behavior and Peripheral Sensitivity Variations

Adult Sitona lineatus L., (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feed on the leaves of various species of leguminous plants, and females lay in the vicinity of pea plants, the roots of which are eaten by the larvae. A study of the volatiles from several legumes and of the response of S. lineatus individuals to these substances was undertaken using two complementary techniques: behavioral, to study the locomotory orientation; and electrophysiological, using electroantennography (EAG). Four volatile compounds, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, 2-hexenal, cis-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, and 3-octanone, were identified from pea, vetch, clover, and lucerne, by coupled gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and coupled gas chromatography–infrared spectrometry (GC-IR). After emergence from July to mid-November, the imago display high response to the odor of pea and some other leguminous plants. A second period of enhanced sensitivity was observed during crop colonization from March to May. High EAG response to pea odor and cis-3-hexen-1-yl acetate was correlated with periods of enhanced locomotory orientation during these months. Experimental results indicate that cis-3-hexen-1-yl acetate could play a key role in discriminating pea among other acceptable leguminous species.     

Olfactory receptor cell responses ofIps grandicollis (eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to intra- and interspecific behavioral chemicals

Electrophysiological recordings from antennal olfactory receptor cells were obtained fromIps grandicollis. Recordings were made from olfactory receptor cells from nine regions of the antennae in response to stimulation with the semiochemicals-pinene, frontalin,endo-brevicomin, verbenone,trans-verbenol,cis-verbenol, ipsdienol, and ipsenol. In many cases, up to two cells were recorded concurrently from the same location. When compared to males, females had a greater percentage of cells responsive to the primary pheromones ofDendroctonus frontalis, frontalin andtrans-verbenol, and ofIps spp., ipsdienol and ipsenol. Among females, more cells responded totrans-verbenol and theIps-produced volatiles than to host or otherD. frontalis-produced compounds. Olfactory cells of males responded mostly tocis-verbenol, followed by-pinene, verbenone,trans-verbenol, andendo-brevicomin. Of those cells responsive primarily to one compound, the greatest percentage were responsive totrans-verbenol in females and to verbenone in males. The response of the antennal olfactory receptor cells to semiochemicals used by male and femaleI. grandicollis is consistent with the presence of these compounds during the host colonization period for each sex. Our results, which show a lack of specificity in most pheromone and host odor receptor cells, is in contrast with previously published accounts of olfactory receptor cell specificity in otherIps species.     

Interconversion of verbenols and verbenone by identified yeasts isolated from the spruce bark beetleIps typographus

Six yeast strains have been isolated and identified from the spruce bark beetle,Ips typographus. We have studied the ability of the yeasts to interconvertcis-verbenol,trans-verbenol, and verbenone. (1S)-cis-Verbenol is an active component in the aggregation pheromone ofIps typographus. The isolatedCandida molischiana/ Hansenula capsulata strain can convert both (1R)- and (1S)-cis-verbenol to verbenone. TheCandida nitratophila strain converts (1R)-cis-verbenol totrans-verbenol and (1S)-cis-verbenol to verbenone. Some of the yeast strains produce 3-methylbutanol, 2-methylpropanol, and 2-phenylethanol after growth in Sabouraud medium.     

Electrophysiological and Oviposition Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuta absoluta</Emphasis> Females to Herbivore-Induced Volatiles in Tomato Plants

In response to attack by herbivorous insects, plants produce semiochemicals for intra- and interspecific communication. The perception of these semiochemicals by conspecifics of the herbivore defines their choice for oviposition and feeding. We aimed to investigate the role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) by Tuta absoluta larvae on the oviposition choice of conspecific females on tomato plants. We performed two- choice and non-choice bioassays with plants damaged by larvae feeding and intact control plants. We also collected headspace volatiles of those plants and tested the response of female antennae on those blends with Gas Chromatography- Electro-Antennographical Detection (GC-EAD). In total 55 compounds were collected from the headspace of T. absoluta larvae-infested plants. Our results show that female moths preferred to oviposit on intact control plants instead of damaged ones. Herbivory induced the emission of hexanal, (Ζ)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-β-ocimene, linalool, (Z)-3-hexenyl butanoate, methyl salicylate, indole, nerolidol, guaidiene-6,9, β-pinene, β-myrcene, α-terpinene, hexenyl hexanoate, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene and (Ε-Ε)- 4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT), one unidentified sesquiterpene and three unknown compounds. In Electroantennographic (EAG) assays, the antennae of T. absoluta females responded to hexanal, (Ζ)-3-hexen-1-ol, methyl salicylate and indole. The antennae of T. absoluta females exhibited a dose-response in EAG studies with authentic samples. Strong EAG responses were obtained for compounds induced on damaged tomato plants, as well as in nonanal, a compound emitted by both infested and control plants. These compounds could be utilized in integrated pest management of T. absoluta.     

Melissa officinalis: Composition,Pharmacological Effects and Derived Release Systems—A Review

Melissa officinalis is a medicinal plant rich in biologically active compounds which is used worldwide for its therapeutic effects. Chemical studies on its composition have shown that it contains mainly flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and essential oil. The main active constituents of Melissa officinalis are volatile compounds (geranial, neral, citronellal and geraniol), triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid), phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid), and flavonoids (quercetin, rhamnocitrin, and luteolin). According to the biological studies, the essential oil and extracts of Melissa officinalis have active compounds that determine many pharmacological effects with potential medical uses. A new field of research has led to the development of controlled release systems with active substances from plants. Therefore, the essential oil or extract of Melissa officinalis has become a major target to be incorporated into various controlled release systems which allow a sustained delivery.     

Aggregation Pheromone of the Qinghai Spruce Bark Beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips nitidus</Emphasis> Eggers

Volatiles from hindgut extracts of males of the Qinghai spruce bark beetle, Ips nitidus, from different attack phases (phase 1: unpaired males and phases 2–4: males joined with one to three females) and hindgut extracts of mated females were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS)/flame ionization detection (FID) with both polar and enantioselective columns. The GC–MS/FID analyses demonstrated that unpaired males from attack phase 1 (nuptial chamber constructed) produced 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, approx. 74%-(−)-ipsdienol, and (−)-cis-verbenol as major hindgut components, and (−)-trans-verbenol, (−)-ipsenol, (−)-verbenone, myrtenol, and 2-phenylethanol as minor or trace components. The quantities of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and especially ipsdienol decreased after mating during phases 2–4, whereas the quantities of (−)-cis- and (−)-trans-verbenol did not change. In contrast, the quantity of (−)-ipsenol seemed to increase as mating activity progressed. After mating with three females (harem size = 3; phase 4), only trace to small amounts of male-specific compounds were detected from I. nitidus male hindguts. Chemical analysis of the hindgut extracts of mated females showed only trace amounts of semiochemicals. A field-trapping bioassay in Qinghai, China showed that the four-component “full blend” containing the three major components, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, (±)-ipsdienol, and (−)-cis-verbenol, plus a minor component, (−)-trans-verbenol, caught significantly more I. nitidus (♂/♀ = 1:2.2) than did the unbaited control and two binary blends. The replacement of (±)-ipsdienol with nearly enantiomerically pure (−)-ipsdienol in the “full blend” significantly reduced trap catches, which suggests that both enantiomers are needed for attraction. On the other hand, removal of (−)-trans-verbenol from the active “full blend” had no significant effect on trap catches. Our results suggest that the three major components, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, 74%-(−)-ipsdienol, and (−)-cis-verbenol (at 7:2:1), produced by unpaired fed males, are likely the aggregation pheromone components of I. nitidus, thus representing the first characterization of an aggregation pheromone system of a bark beetle native solely to China.     

Kairomone response inThanasimus predators to pheromone components ofIps typographus

Thanasimus formicarius (L.) responds to racemic ipsdienol and ipsenol and less to (S)-cis-verbenol. All three are pheromone components in several bark beetles of the genusIps. Synergistic effects appeared when the components were combined. Methylbutenol alone, the specific pheromone component ofIps typographus, elicited no response, but synergestic effects appeared when methylbutenol was combined withcis-verbenol and ipsdienol. The sympatric speciesThanasimus femoralis (Zett.) responds to (S)-cis-verbenol, while ipsdienol and ipsenol synergize the response.     

The Role of Indole and Other Shikimic Acid Derived Maize Volatiles in the Attraction of Two Parasitic Wasps

After herbivore attack, plants release a plethora of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which results in odor blends that are attractive to predators and parasitoids of these herbivores. VOCs in the odor blends emitted by maize plants (Zea mays) infested by lepidopteran larvae are well characterized. They are derived from at least three different biochemical pathways, but the relative importance of each pathway for the production of VOCs that attract parasitic wasps is unknown. Here, we studied the importance of shikimic acid derived VOCs for the attraction of females of the parasitoids Cotesia marginiventris and Microplitis rufiventris. By incubating caterpillar-infested maize plants in glyphosate, an inhibitor of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phospate (EPSP) synthase, we obtained induced odor blends with only minute amounts of shikimic acid derived VOCs. In olfactometer bioassays, the inhibited plants were as attractive to naive C. marginiventris females as control plants that released normal amounts of shikimic acid derived VOCs, whereas naive M. rufiventris females preferred inhibited plants to control plants. By adding back synthetic indole, the quantitatively most important shikimic acid derived VOC in induced maize odors, to inhibited plants, we showed that indole had no effect on the attraction of C. marginiventris and that M. rufiventris preferred blends without synthetic indole. Exposing C. marginiventris females either to odor blends of inhibited or control plants during oviposition experiences shifted their preference in subsequent olfactometer tests in favor of the experienced odor. Further learning experiments with synthetic indole showed that C. marginiventris can learn to respond to this compound, but that this does not affect its choices between natural induced blends with or without indole. We hypothesize that for naïve wasps the attractiveness of an herbivore-induced odor blend is reduced due to masking by nonattractive compounds, and that during oviposition experiences in the presence of complex odor blends, parasitoids strongly associate some compounds, whereas others are largely ignored.     

Field bioassay ofexo- andendo-brevicomin withDendroctonus ponderosae in lodgepole pine

Bothexo- andendo-brevicomin reduced the response of flyingDendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to an attractant composed oftrans-verbenol and terpenes or oftrans- andcis-verbenol and terpenes in a stand ofPinus contorta var.murrayana. These data suggest that racemicexo- andendo-brevicomin may interrupt aggregation in populations of mountain pine beetle colonizing lodgepole pine; functions of the natural chiral compounds are unknown.Research supported by NSF grants DEB 77-11367 and PCN 79-21708 and the O.S.U. School of Forestry. O.S.U. Agric. Exp. Sta. Tech. Paper No. 5713.     

Electroantennogram responses by mountain pine beetles,Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins,exposed to selected semiochemicals

Electroantennograms (EAGs) were obtained forD. ponderosae to the bark beetle pheromonestrans-verbenol,cis-verbenol,exo-brevicomin,endo-brevicomin, frontalin, verbenone; to the kairomones, -pinene, -pinene, camphene, -3-carene, limonene, myrcene; to a blend (111) oftrans-verbenol,exo-brevicomin, and myrcene; and to diacetone-alcohol. Male and female responses, in general, did not differ significantly over the whole EAG dose-response curves but differed at a few concentrations on many of the curves. There were more differences noted for pheromones than kairomones. The blend yielded among the largest EAGs in both sexes and appeared to show synergism. Responses of females were lower than those for males in most instances. Significant differences in responses by the two sexes were much fewer for the kairomones than the pheromones. EAG recovery rates tested at only one concentration showed significant differences between males and females for three pheromones,trans-verbenol,cis-verbenol, and verbenone, and two kairomones, camphene and -3-carene. Thresholds were quite low for most of the odorants exceptcis-verbenol, camphene, verbenone, and diacetone-alcohol in females, andcis-verbenol, verbenone, -pinene, and diacetone-alcohol in males. The results, using at least one EAG parameter, support behavioral and field studies involvingexo-brevicomin,trans-verbenol, frontalin, and the blend.     

Antennal olfactory responsiveness of Douglas-fir beetle,Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to pheromones and host odors

Electroantennograms were obtained fromD. pseudotsugae in response to the pheromones 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (3,2-MCHone), 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (3,2-MCHol), frontalin,trans-verbenol, verbenone, and the host terpene hydrocarbons limonene and camphene. Male and female beetles were 10 and 100 times more sensitive to 3,2-MCH-one and 3,2-MCHol than to the other compounds. Of the other compounds, males were most sensitive totrans-verbenol, verbenone, and camphene, while females were most sensitive to frontalin, limonene, and camphene. The results parallel and help explain behavior of individual males and females during host tree selection, aggregation, and colonization.     

Identification of the most intense odor compounds formed during autoxidation of methyl linolenate at room temperature

The volatile compounds formed during autoxidation of methyl linolenate (MLe) at 22–24°C were analyzed by a technique which reveals the flavor compounds having the highest flavor units (ratio of the concentration to the odor treshold). After a reaction time of 48 hr, when ca. 20 mol percent of the MLe had been converted into hydroperoxides,trans, cis-2,6-nonadienal followed by 1,cis-5-octadien-3-one,rans,cis-3-5-octadien-2-one andcis-3-hexenal showed the highest flavor units. After 102 hr 1,cis-5-octadien-3-one was by far the most important odor compound, followed bycis-3-hexenal andtrans,cis-2,6-nonadienal. These results were presented at the AOCS Annual Meeting in New Orleans in May 1987.     

Production and Diversity of Volatile Terpenes from Plants on Calcareous and Siliceous Soils: Effect of Soil Nutrients

Fertilizer effects on terpene production have been noted in numerous reports. In contrast, only a few studies have studied the response of leaf terpene content to naturally different soil fertility levels. Terpene content, as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/flame ionization detector, and growth of Pinus halepensis, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Cistus albidus were studied on calcareous and siliceous soils under field conditions. The effect of nitrogen (N) and extractable phosphorus (P_E) from these soils on terpenes was also investigated since calcareous soils mainly differ from siliceous soils in their higher nutrient loadings. Rich terpene mixtures were detected. Twenty-one terpenes appeared in leaf extracts of R. officinalis and C. albidus and 20 in P. halepensis. Growth of all species was enhanced on calcareous soils, while terpene content showed a species-specific response to soil type. The total monoterpene content of P. halepensis and that of some major compounds (e.g., δ-terpinene) were higher on calcareous than on siliceous soils. A significant and positive relationship was found between concentration of N and P_E and leaf terpene content of this species. These findings suggest that P. halepensis may respond to an environment characterized by increasing soil deposition, by allocating carbon resources to the synthesis of terpene defense metabolites without growth reduction. Results obtained for R. officinalis showed high concentrations of numerous major monoterpenes (e.g., myrcene, camphor) in plants growing on calcareous soils, while α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, and the total sesquiterpene content were higher on siliceous soils. Finally, only alloaromadendrene and δ-cadinene of C. albidus showed higher concentrations on siliceous soils. Unlike P. halepensis, soil nutrients were not involved in terpene variation in calcareous and siliceous soils of these two shrub species. Possible ecological explanations on the effect of soil type for these latter two species as well as the ecological explanation of rich terpene mixtures are discussed.     

Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression Analysis of Pathogenesis-Related 1 (PR-1) Gene Family in Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) in Response to Blister-Blight Disease Stress

Pathogenesis-related 1 (PR-1) proteins, which are defense proteins in plant–pathogen interactions, play an important role in the resistance and defense of plants against diseases. Blister blight disease is caused by Exobasidium vexans Massee and a major leaf disease of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). However, the systematic characterization and analysis of the PR-1 gene family in tea plants is still lacking, and the defense mechanism of this family remains unknown. In this study, 17 CsPR-1 genes were identified from the tea plant genome and classified into five groups based on their signal peptide, isoelectric point, and C-terminus extension. Most of the CsPR-1 proteins contained an N-terminal signal peptide and a conserved PR-1 like domain. CsPR-1 genes comprised multiple cis-acting elements and were closely related to the signal-transduction pathways involving TCA, NPR1, EDS16, BGL2, PR4, and HCHIB. These characteristics imply an important role of the genes in the defense of the tea plant. In addition, the RNA-seq data and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that the CsPR-1-2, -4, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -14, -15, and -17 genes were significantly upregulated under tea blister-blight stress. This study could help to increase understanding of CsPR-1 genes and their defense mechanism in response to tea blister blight.