DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MARKERS For early identification of blister bight resistance or susceptibility, SCAR marker has been developed . This DNA marker will enable us in selecting blister blight resistant/ susceptible plants. Development of drought specific microsatellite markers (SSR) are in progress.

PHYLOGENY OF BLISTER BLIGHT PATHOGEN Blister blight is an important fungal disease of tea caused by the fungus, Exobasidium vexans . The disease is present in all the tea growing regions of south India and causes a substantial crop loss. We have studied the genetic diversity of this pathogenic fungus through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker . The study showed wide genetic variations among the samples collected from different tea growing regions of south India.

PATHOGENESIS RELATED PROTEINS Several classes of proteins called pathogenesis related (PR) proteins are induced in response to the infection of plants with pathogen. We have identified induction of PR proteins due to blister blight infection. The specific PR protein formed will be isolated and sequenced. The study will help in identifying the gene related to blister blight resistance.

MOLEULAR MECHANISM OF BANJI (STERILE) SHOOT FORMATION To identify the genes responsible for banji (sterile) shoot formation, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) analysis from cDNA and SSH libraries was adopted. These libraries were constructed and sequencing is going on.