Genetics and Chemistry of the Resistance of Tea Plant to Pests

Abstract

Insect and mite pests as well as diseases occurring on the tea plant are described in this chapter. The damage caused by these harmful pests and diseases ranges from 5%–55%, and generally from 10%–20%. The importance and roles of the resistance of the tea plant to the insect pests and diseases were discussed from the viewpoint of IPM (integrated pest management). The mechanism of resistance of the tea plant including the morphological, physiological and biochemical basis was discussed. By using tea gray blight (Pestalotiopsis longiseta (Spegazzini) Dai & Kobayashi), tea anthracnose (Gloeosporium theae-sinensis Miyake) and mulberry scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Targioni-Tosswtt) as the examples, the genetic basis of resistance of the tea plant to tea diseases and pests was illustrated. The future prospects for the resistance of tea plants were discussed in relation to the development of biotechnology and chemical ecology.