Control of tea red root rot by spraying salicylic acid and its effect on tea quality

Salicylic acid (SA) was sprayed on tea seedlings to evaluate its effect on resistance to root rot and the quality of tea. Results showed that disease resistance was enhanced by spreading exogenous SA. Tea production was improved in SA treatment. Further studies showed that SA improves tea plant disease resistance by inducing polyphenol oxidases and lipoxygenase. SA treatment significantly increased the contents of polyphenols, namely catechins and flavonoids, which are the main tea quality parameters. Salicylic acid spraying could enhance the resistance of tea plants to diseases and improve the production and quality of tea.