The tea cultivar 'Chungui' with jasmine-like aroma: From genome and epigenome to quality.

'Chungui' is a newly promoted tea cultivar in China, renowned for producing oolong tea with a distinctive jasmine-like aroma. However, the genetic basis of this unique aroma remains unclear. In this study, the 'Chungui' genome, one of the most complete and well-annotated tea genomes, was assembled using PacBio HiFi reads and Hi-C sequencing.

A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Rapid Detection of Causing Tea Leaf Spot.

Tea leaf spot caused by is an important disease that threatens the healthy growth of tea plants () and results in reductions in the productivity and quality of tea leaves. Early diagnosis of the disease is particularly important for managing the infection. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is an efficient diagnostic technique with the advantages of simplicity, specificity, and sensitivity.

Soil Microbial Community Characteristics and Their Effect on Tea Quality under Different Fertilization Treatments in Two Tea Plantations.

Fertilization is an essential aspect of tea plantation management that supports a sustainable tea production and drastically influences soil microbial communities. However, few research studies have focused on the differences of microbial communities and the variation in tea quality in response to different fertilization treatments. In this work, the soil fertility, tea quality, and soil microbial communities were investigated in two domestic tea plantations following the application of chemical and organic fertilizers.

The MADS-box transcription factor CsAGL9 plays essential roles in seed setting in Camellia sinensis.

The number of seed setting (NSS) is an important biological trait that affects tea propagation and yield. In this study, the NSS of an F tea population (n = 324) generated via a cross between 'Longjing 43' and 'Baihaozao' was investigated at two locations in two consecutive years. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the NSS was performed, and 10 major QTLs were identified.

Integrated Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Revealed Different Regulatory Networks of Metabolic Flux in Tea Plants [ (L.) O. Kuntze] with Varied Leaf Colors.

Leaf color variations in tea plants were widely considered due to their attractive phenotypes and characteristic flavors. The molecular mechanism of color formation was extensively investigated. But few studies focused on the transformation process of leaf color change.

Integrative transcriptome and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analyses of a temperature-sensitive albino tea plant cultivar.

Green tea made from albino buds and leaves has a strong umami taste and aroma. The cultivar 'Zhonghuang 2' (ZH2, Camellia sinensis) is a natural mutant with young shoots that are yellow in spring and green or yellow-green in summer. However, the mechanism of leaf color change remains unclear.

A tau class glutathione S-transferase in tea plant, CsGSTU45, facilitates tea plant susceptibility to Colletotrichum camelliae infection mediated by jasmonate signaling pathway.

Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze], as one of the most important commercial crops, frequently suffers from anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum camelliae.

Magnesium transporter CsMGT10 of tea plants plays a key role in chlorosis leaf vein greening.

Magnesium (Mg), as the central atom of chlorophyll, is the most abundant divalent cation for plant growth and development in living cells. MRS2/MGT magnesium transporters play important roles in coping with magnesium stress, chloroplast development and photosynthesis. However, the molecular mechanism of MGT influencing tea plant leaf vein color remains unknown.

Genomic characterization of two new viruses infecting Ageratum conyzoides in China.

Two new RNA viruses were identified in Ageratum conyzoides in China using high-throughput sequencing, and their genome sequences were determined using PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The new viruses, which have positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genomes, were provisionally named "ageratum virus 1" (AgV1) and "ageratum virus 2" (AgV2). AgV1 has a genome of 3,526 nucleotides with three open reading frames (ORFs) and shares 49.

Pectate Lyase Genes Abundantly Expressed During the Infection Regulate Morphological Development of and Is Required for Full Virulence to Tea Plants.

Colletotrichum camelliae is the dominant species causing foliar diseases of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in China. Transcriptome data and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis have demonstrated that the pectate lyase genes in (s) were significantly upregulated during infectious development on tea plants (cv. ).

Functional identification of purine permeases reveals their roles in caffeine transport in tea plants ().

Caffeine is a characteristic secondary metabolite in tea plants. It confers tea beverage with unique flavor and excitation effect on human body. The pathway of caffeine biosynthesis has been generally established, but the mechanism of caffeine transport remains unclear.

A Tea Plant () Gene, , Is Correlated to Bud Dormancy and Triggers Early Flowering in .

Flowering and bud dormancy are crucial stages in the life cycle of perennial angiosperms in temperate climates. MADS-box family genes are involved in many plant growth and development processes. Here, we identified three genes in tea plant belonging to the family.

Identification of a BAHD Acyltransferase Gene Involved in Plant Growth and Secondary Metabolism in Tea Plants.

Plant acyl-CoA dominated acyltransferases (named BAHD) comprise a large appointed protein superfamily and play varied roles in plant secondary metabolism like synthesis of modified anthocyanins, flavonoids, volatile esters, etc. Tea () is an important non-alcoholic medicinal and fragrancy plant synthesizing different secondary metabolites, including flavonoids. In the tea () cultivar Longjing 43 (LJ43), eight samples were performed into three groups for transcriptome analysis under three biological replications.

Root Foraging Strategy Improves the Adaptability of Tea Plants ( L.) to Soil Potassium Heterogeneity.

Root foraging enables plants to obtain more soil nutrients in a constantly changing nutrient environment. Little is known about the adaptation mechanism of adventitious roots of plants dominated by asexual reproduction (such as tea plants) to soil potassium heterogeneity. We investigated root foraging strategies for K by two tea plants (low-K tolerant genotype "1511" and low-K intolerant genotype "1601") using a multi-layer split-root system.

Integrated transcriptome and hormonal analysis of naphthalene acetic acid-induced adventitious root formation of tea cuttings (Camellia sinensis).

Background: Tea plant breeding or cultivation mainly involves propagation via cuttings, which not only ensures the inheritance of the excellent characteristics of the mother plant but also facilitates mechanized management. The formation of adventitious root (AR) determines the success of cutting-based propagation, and auxin is an essential factor involved in this process. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying AR formation in nodal tea cuttings, transcriptome and endogenous hormone analysis was performed on the stem bases of red (mature)- and green (immature)-stem cuttings of 'Echa 1 hao' tea plant as affected by a pulse treatment with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA).

Systematic Investigation and Expression Profiles of the Nitrate Transporter 1/Peptide Transporter Family (NPF) in Tea Plant ().

NRT1/PTR FAMILY (NPF) genes are characterized as nitrate and peptide transporters that played important roles in various substrates transport in plants. However, little is known about the NPF gene in tea plants. Here, a total of 109 CsNPF members were identified from the tea plant genome, and divided into 8 groups according to their sequence characteristics and phylogenetic relationship.

Genome-wide identification of glutathione S-transferase gene family members in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and their response to environmental stress.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are ubiquitous enzymes involved in the regulation of plant growth, development, and stress responses. Unfortunately, the comprehensive identification of GSTs in tea plant has not been achieved. In this study, a total of 88 CsGSTs proteins were identified and divided into eight classes, among which the tau class was the largest.

Integrative Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Reveals the Absorption and Metabolism of Selenium in Tea Plants [ (L.) O. Kuntze].

Certain tea plants () have the ability to accumulate selenium. In plants, the predominant forms of bioavailable Se are selenite (SeO ) and selenate (SeO ). We applied transcriptomics and proteomics to hydroponically grown plants treated with selenite or selenate for 48 h in the attempt to elucidate the selenium absorption and assimilation mechanisms in tea.

Transcriptome analysis identifies CsNRT genes involved in nitrogen uptake in tea plants, with a major role of CsNRT2.4.

Tea trees have a high demand for nitrogen (N) fertilizer to improve the yield and quality of tea. In this research, transcriptome analysis revealed the effect of N starvation and resupply upon N uptake in tea plants. We identified 4098 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were significantly enriched in amino acid and N metabolism and were extensively mapped to the tea genome.

Biochemical characterization of specific Alanine Decarboxylase (AlaDC) and its ancestral enzyme Serine Decarboxylase (SDC) in tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

Background: Alanine decarboxylase (AlaDC), specifically present in tea plants, is crucial for theanine biosynthesis. Serine decarboxylase (SDC), found in many plants, is a protein most closely related to AlaDC. To investigate whether the new gene AlaDC originate from gene SDC and to determine the biochemical properties of the two proteins from Camellia sinensis, the sequences of CsAlaDC and CsSDC were analyzed and the two proteins were over-expressed, purified, and characterized.