Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Defense Mechanisms and Key Antifungal Metabolites in <i>Camellia oleifera</i> under Sodium Pheophorbide a Treatment

Sodium pheophorbide a (SPA) exhibits positive effects against leaf spot blight caused by Diaporthe mahothocarpus in Camellia oleifera, but how SPA affects resistance to leaf spot blight is currently unknown. This investigation represents the inaugural application of integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to characterize the responses of C. oleifera to SPA exposure. The results demonstrated that 1200 differentially expressed genes and 144 differentially accumulated metabolites were detected in C. oleifera . Integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic data sets, we observed that genes and metabolites related to chlorophyll, flavonoid, and lignin metabolic pathways were highly significantly modulated in C. oleifera after SPA treatment, revealing that the three pathways served as key regulators of SPA-triggered resistance of C. oleifera . Our results provide scientific support for elucidating the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying SPA-mediated control of leaf spot blight in C. oleifera .