The Laccase Gene Family Mediate Multi-Perspective Trade-Offs during Tea Plant () Development and Defense Processes.

Laccase (LAC) plays important roles in different plant development and defense processes. In this study, we identified laccase genes (s) in cv 'Longjing43' cultivars, which were classified into six subclades. The expression patterns of s displayed significant spatiotemporal variations across different tissues and developmental stages. Most members in subclades II, IV and subclade I exhibited contrasting expression patterns during leaf development, consistent with a trade-off model for preferential expression in the early and late developmental stages. The extensive transcriptional changes of s under different phytohormone and herbivore treatment were observed and compared, with the expression of most genes in subclades I, II and III being downregulated but genes in subclades IV, V and VI being upregulated, suggesting a growth and defense trade-off model between these subclades. Taken together, our research reveal that s mediate multi-perspective trade-offs during tea plant development and defense processes and are involved in herbivore resistance in tea plants. More in-depth research of s upstream regulation and downstream targets mediating herbivore defense should be conducted in the future.