Transcriptome and Biochemical Analyses of a Chlorophyll-Deficient Bud Mutant of Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

Tea leaf-color mutants have attracted increasing attention due to their accumulation of quality-related biochemical components. However, there is limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind leaf-color bud mutation in tea plants. In this study, a chlorina tea shoot (HY) and a green tea shoot (LY) from the same tea plant were investigated using transcriptome and biochemical analyses. The results showed that the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents in the HY were significantly lower than the LY's, which might have been caused by the activation of several genes related to chlorophyll degradation, such as SGR and CLH. The down-regulation of the CHS, DFR, and ANS involved in flavonoid biosynthesis might result in the reduction in catechins, and the up-regulated GDHA and GS2 might bring about the accumulation of glutamate in HY. RT-qPCR assays of nine DEGs confirmed the RNA-seq results. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of the chlorophyll deficient-induced metabolic change in tea plants.

Automated summary

In this study, tea leaf-color mutants were studied using transcriptome and biochemical analysis, and it was found that the reduced chlorophyll content might be caused by the activation of genes related to chlorophyll degradation, along with a reduction in flavonoid biosynthesis and an accumulation of glutamate. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf-color bud mutation in tea plants.