Two leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases initiate herbivory defense responses in tea plants

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) have emerged as key regulators of herbivory perception and subsequent defense initiation. While their functions in grass plants have been gradually elucidated, the roles of herbivory-related LRR-RLKs in woody plants remain largely unknown. In this study, we mined the genomic and transcriptomic data of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and identified a total of 307 CsLRR-RLK members. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these CsLRR-RLKs into 14 subgroups along with their Arabidopsis homologs. Gene structure and conserved domain analyses revealed notable similarities among subgroup members. Among the identified CsLRR-RLKs, we focused on two plasma membrane-localized LRR-RLKs, CsLRR-RLK44 and CsLRR-RLK239, which do not form homodimers or heterodimers with each other. Both respond strongly to herbivory, and their expression patterns significantly correlate with herbivore resistance phenotypes across different tea accessions. CsLRR-RLK44 and CsLRR-RLK239 act upstream of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) cascades and modulate the expression of defense-related MPKs and WRKY transcription factors. Additionally, silencing CsLRR-RLK44 or CsLRR-RLK239 reduced the levels of herbivory-induced jasmonates, thereby weakening the plant resistance to tea geometrid larvae (Ectropis obliqua). Our work is the first to demonstrate that in woody plants, LRR-RLKs are essential for enhancing herbivore resistance through the activation of the canonical signaling, including MPKs, WRKYs and jasmonates. Furthermore, our study extends mechanistic insights into how LRR-RLKs initiate plant defenses from grasses to economically important tree species.