Tissue-Dependent Variation Profiles of Tea Quality-Related Metabolites in New Shoots of Tea Accessions

Several metabolites define tea quality in new tea shoots composed of leaf and stem. To improve tea quality for breeding, it is important to understand the tissue-dependent genetic mechanisms and metabolic network responsible for the profile of tea quality-related metabolites. We analyzed the volatiles and specialized metabolites as the tea quality-related metabolites in leaves and stems of new shoots in 30 tea accessions to understand the tissue variation and network between tea quality-related metabolites. Our results provided the tissue-dependent variation network in the tea quality-related metabolites, including volatiles in new leaves and stems in tea accessions. Each volatile content in tea accessions showed the coefficient of variation ranging from 58.7 to 221.9% and 54.2 to 318.3% in new leaves and new stems, respectively. The accumulation pattern of tea quality-related metabolites in new leaves and stems varied depending on the accession. When comparing tea genetic populations, the profile of tea quality-related metabolites of new leaves, but not new stems, was the key to distinguishing tea genetic populations by chemical indicators. We described the network between tea quality-related metabolites, especially the dense network in new leaves. These results also will provide the key information for metabolic engineering and the selection of breeding materials in tea plants based on the tea quality-related metabolites and aid in understanding their molecular mechanisms and network of metabolic variation.

Automated summary

Our study identified tissue-dependent variation in tea quality-related metabolites in new leaves and stems of tea accessions. The volatile content in tea accessions showed significant variation, indicating a dense network between tea quality-related metabolites, especially in new leaves. These findings are crucial for improving tea quality through metabolic engineering and selection of breeding materials in tea plants.