Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions

Tea is a globally popular heritage beverage consumed by over three billion people. The unique taste and health benefits of tea are linked to its nutrient composition and antioxidant activity (AOA). As a plant species, tea’s nutrient elements and AOA vary based on season, altitude, clone type and lea...

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Main Authors: Wisnu Eko Murdiono, Nur Amirah Syafiqah Salman, Nor Asma Ab Razak, Mohd. Izuan Effendy Halmi, Jean Wan Hong Yong, Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil, David F.R.P. Burslem, Khairil Mahmud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Applied Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004111
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author Wisnu Eko Murdiono
Nur Amirah Syafiqah Salman
Nor Asma Ab Razak
Mohd. Izuan Effendy Halmi
Jean Wan Hong Yong
Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil
David F.R.P. Burslem
Khairil Mahmud
author_facet Wisnu Eko Murdiono
Nur Amirah Syafiqah Salman
Nor Asma Ab Razak
Mohd. Izuan Effendy Halmi
Jean Wan Hong Yong
Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil
David F.R.P. Burslem
Khairil Mahmud
author_sort Wisnu Eko Murdiono
collection DOAJ
description Tea is a globally popular heritage beverage consumed by over three billion people. The unique taste and health benefits of tea are linked to its nutrient composition and antioxidant activity (AOA). As a plant species, tea’s nutrient elements and AOA vary based on season, altitude, clone type and leaf age. This study examined the nutrient composition and AOA of young and mature tea leaves from four clones (BC1248, TRI2024, AT53 and TV9) grown at different altitudes under tropical conditions in Malaysia. The results demonstrated that altitude and clone type significantly influenced (p < 0.05) foliar nutrient elements and AOA. Young tea leaves have higher nutrient levels and AOA than mature leaves across all clones. Interestingly, the foliar nutrient availability was higher in the highlands, although the variation across the four clones was insignificant (p > 0.05). On the other hand, foliar nutrient elements varied significantly among lowland tea clones, except for N and Ca. The highest AOA was recorded in young tea leaves of clone BC1248 at the lowland plantations, with total polyphenol contents (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylradical (DPPH IC50), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 19.60 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g, 50.70 ± 1.86 µg/mL, 2.10 ± 0.14 mM Fe (II)/g, respectively. The DPPH IC50 and FRAP varied significantly (p < 0.05), except for TPC among the lowland and highland clones. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), we identified that the tropical lowlands of Malaysia were more suitable for growing tea with high AOA. These findings provide valuable insights for growers to develop sustainable tea farming strategies, ensuring optimal yield and targeted quality under tropical conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-366933dccd8342b486b515f80b60a8f92025-08-20T03:15:06ZengElsevierApplied Food Research2772-50222025-12-015210111010.1016/j.afres.2025.101110Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditionsWisnu Eko Murdiono0Nur Amirah Syafiqah Salman1Nor Asma Ab Razak2Mohd. Izuan Effendy Halmi3Jean Wan Hong Yong4Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil5David F.R.P. Burslem6Khairil Mahmud7Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, IndonesiaDepartment of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaNatural Medicine and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience (IBS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden; Corresponding authors.School of Nutrition &amp; Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Terengganu 21300, MalaysiaSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU Scotland, United KingdomDepartment of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Biodiversity Unit, Institute of Bioscience (IBS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding authors.Tea is a globally popular heritage beverage consumed by over three billion people. The unique taste and health benefits of tea are linked to its nutrient composition and antioxidant activity (AOA). As a plant species, tea’s nutrient elements and AOA vary based on season, altitude, clone type and leaf age. This study examined the nutrient composition and AOA of young and mature tea leaves from four clones (BC1248, TRI2024, AT53 and TV9) grown at different altitudes under tropical conditions in Malaysia. The results demonstrated that altitude and clone type significantly influenced (p < 0.05) foliar nutrient elements and AOA. Young tea leaves have higher nutrient levels and AOA than mature leaves across all clones. Interestingly, the foliar nutrient availability was higher in the highlands, although the variation across the four clones was insignificant (p > 0.05). On the other hand, foliar nutrient elements varied significantly among lowland tea clones, except for N and Ca. The highest AOA was recorded in young tea leaves of clone BC1248 at the lowland plantations, with total polyphenol contents (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylradical (DPPH IC50), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 19.60 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g, 50.70 ± 1.86 µg/mL, 2.10 ± 0.14 mM Fe (II)/g, respectively. The DPPH IC50 and FRAP varied significantly (p < 0.05), except for TPC among the lowland and highland clones. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), we identified that the tropical lowlands of Malaysia were more suitable for growing tea with high AOA. These findings provide valuable insights for growers to develop sustainable tea farming strategies, ensuring optimal yield and targeted quality under tropical conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004111Camellia sinensisLeaf agesTea cloneNutrient elementAntioxidant activityLowland tea
spellingShingle Wisnu Eko Murdiono
Nur Amirah Syafiqah Salman
Nor Asma Ab Razak
Mohd. Izuan Effendy Halmi
Jean Wan Hong Yong
Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil
David F.R.P. Burslem
Khairil Mahmud
Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
Applied Food Research
Camellia sinensis
Leaf ages
Tea clone
Nutrient element
Antioxidant activity
Lowland tea
title Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
title_full Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
title_fullStr Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
title_full_unstemmed Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
title_short Effects of leaf ages, altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O) Kuntze) in tropical conditions
title_sort effects of leaf ages altitude and clone types on nutrient elements and antioxidant activity of tea camellia sinensis l o kuntze in tropical conditions
topic Camellia sinensis
Leaf ages
Tea clone
Nutrient element
Antioxidant activity
Lowland tea
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225004111
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