Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses

Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that are beneficial to life activities and are mainly concentrated in buds and leaves in the form of glycosides. Flavonoid glycosides have important effects on the properties and quality of tea plants. Research has shown that the abundance of flavonoid glycosides...

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Main Authors: Ruiyang Shan, Yongheng Zhang, Xiaomei You, Xiangrui Kong, Yazhen Zhang, Xinlei Li, Lu Wang, Xinchao Wang, Changsong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/625
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author Ruiyang Shan
Yongheng Zhang
Xiaomei You
Xiangrui Kong
Yazhen Zhang
Xinlei Li
Lu Wang
Xinchao Wang
Changsong Chen
author_facet Ruiyang Shan
Yongheng Zhang
Xiaomei You
Xiangrui Kong
Yazhen Zhang
Xinlei Li
Lu Wang
Xinchao Wang
Changsong Chen
author_sort Ruiyang Shan
collection DOAJ
description Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that are beneficial to life activities and are mainly concentrated in buds and leaves in the form of glycosides. Flavonoid glycosides have important effects on the properties and quality of tea plants. Research has shown that the abundance of flavonoid glycosides varies greatly among different cultivars, but research on the regulatory mechanisms that cause their differential accumulation among tea plant cultivars with different leaf colors is lacking. In this study, an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was conducted to determine the regulatory networks regulating astringency and color-related flavonoids in tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. A total of five anthocyanidins, four catechins, and nine flavonol glycosides were found to partially contribute to the differences in taste and leaf color among tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. Furthermore, 15 <i>MYB</i> genes and 5 <i>Dof</i> genes were identified as potential regulators controlling the expression of eight key structural genes, resulting in differences in the accumulation of specific compounds, including epicatechin (EC), catechin (C), cyanidin, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside, in tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. These findings provide insights into the development and utilization of resources from tea plants with diverse leaf colors.
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spelling doaj-art-d75dd9123a0148959dd1efd616b9d3e32025-08-20T03:12:12ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114462510.3390/plants14040625Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic AnalysesRuiyang Shan0Yongheng Zhang1Xiaomei You2Xiangrui Kong3Yazhen Zhang4Xinlei Li5Lu Wang6Xinchao Wang7Changsong Chen8Tea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaTea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaTea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaTea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaTea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaTea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fujian Branch of National Center for Tea Improvement, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaFlavonoids are secondary metabolites that are beneficial to life activities and are mainly concentrated in buds and leaves in the form of glycosides. Flavonoid glycosides have important effects on the properties and quality of tea plants. Research has shown that the abundance of flavonoid glycosides varies greatly among different cultivars, but research on the regulatory mechanisms that cause their differential accumulation among tea plant cultivars with different leaf colors is lacking. In this study, an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was conducted to determine the regulatory networks regulating astringency and color-related flavonoids in tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. A total of five anthocyanidins, four catechins, and nine flavonol glycosides were found to partially contribute to the differences in taste and leaf color among tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. Furthermore, 15 <i>MYB</i> genes and 5 <i>Dof</i> genes were identified as potential regulators controlling the expression of eight key structural genes, resulting in differences in the accumulation of specific compounds, including epicatechin (EC), catechin (C), cyanidin, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside, in tea plant cultivars with diverse leaf colors. These findings provide insights into the development and utilization of resources from tea plants with diverse leaf colors.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/625<i>Camellia sinensis</i>transcriptomicsflavonoidsregulatory network
spellingShingle Ruiyang Shan
Yongheng Zhang
Xiaomei You
Xiangrui Kong
Yazhen Zhang
Xinlei Li
Lu Wang
Xinchao Wang
Changsong Chen
Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
Plants
<i>Camellia sinensis</i>
transcriptomics
flavonoids
regulatory network
title Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
title_full Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
title_fullStr Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
title_full_unstemmed Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
title_short Revealing the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Accumulation in Tender Leaves of Tea Plants by Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses
title_sort revealing the molecular regulatory mechanism of flavonoid accumulation in tender leaves of tea plants by transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses
topic <i>Camellia sinensis</i>
transcriptomics
flavonoids
regulatory network
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/625
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