Time-resolved dual transcriptome profiling of interactions between tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) and its anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

• The time-resolved dual transcriptome analysis of the interaction between anthracnose and tea plants was reported for the first time. • Under inoculation with injury, the mechanical damage interference on the results was effectively excluded through controlled comparison. • Resistant tea variety could respond to anthracnose stress in a shorter time, resulting in a corresponding slowdown in the rate of fungal infection spread. • The content of PR1 protein may play a potential role in indicating the strength of disease resistance. • Differences in the regulation of cell wall components metabolic pathways in tea plants may affect the strength of disease resistance. Anthracnose is one of the most destructive diseases and is widely prevalent in world. Due to the limited understanding of the resistance mechanisms, the insufficient of tea anthracnose control cause yield and quality losses. This study established a lesion coefficient calculation model using ImageJ software and identified a resistant variety ( Camellia. sinensis var. laochashan) and a susceptible variety ( Camellia. sinensis var. zhenong402). Using time-resolved dual RNA-seq technology, the differential expression genes (DEGs) of two tea varieties and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides during the infection period (0 h, 12 h, 30 h, 72 h, and 120 h) were figured. Genes associated with appressorium formation, enzymes, mycotoxins, and common fungal extracellular membrane (CFEM) effector proteins may be involved in the infection process of anthracnose. Conversely, the DEGs related to the cell wall components, phytohormones, signal transduction, transcription factors, secondary metabolites, and pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) may function in the disease resistance of tea plants. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed modules of positively/negatively correlated genes that may contribute to defense in resistant variety. Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM) quantification of representative PRs (PR1, CHIT, TLP, and PAL) clarified their potential roles in the defense response of tea plants. The findings of this study provide foundational insights into tea plant anthracnose resistance mechanisms and innovative disease management approaches.