Abstract Background Infestation by tea green leafhoppers ( Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii ) can cause a series of biochemical changes in leaves. As typical cell-rupture feeder, E. secretes proteases while using its stylet to probe the tender shoots plants Camellia sinensis ). This study identified and analyzed expressed specifically salivary gland (SG) gut through enzymatic activity assays comp...