Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 6437

Special Issue Editor

Tea Research Institute, College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: germplasm resources; light environment; healthy compounds; breeding technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tea is rich in secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, theanine and caffeine, recognized as a non-alcoholic health drink that has benefited billions of consumers worldwide. Innovation and application of science and technology in the cultivation and breeding of tea plants are important prerequisites to guarantee the yield, quality, health, safety and efficient production of tea. In the past, tea plants have been gradually introduced and developed in dozens of tea-producing countries because of their good adaptability to temperate and tropical climates. The development of the tea industry now faces many challenges and questions, such as frequent climatic disasters, labor shortages and insufficient development of germplasm resources. Additionally, with the increase of diversified consumer demand in tea market, the field of tea cultivation and breeding will pay more attention to the replacement or upgrading of new varieties, new technologies and new equipments.

This Special Issue will focus on the latest developments and trends in the cultivation and breeding of tea plants.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Breeding technology;
  • Special germplasm resources;
  • Environment and adaptability;
  • Traits and production technology;
  • Formation of healthy compounds;
  • Nutrient management.

Dr. Zhijun Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • secondary metabolites
  • efficient production
  • adaptability
  • climatic disasters
  • germplasm resources

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3656 KiB  
Article
Exploring Genetic Variation and Trait Correlations in ‘Shiqian Taicha’ Tea Based on Comprehensive Analyses of Morphological and Biochemical Diversity
by Kaiqin Lin, Anran Wang, Yuexin Li, Lulu Li, Jie Wei, Fuyu Zhou, Degang Zhao and Donghai Yan
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1128; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111128 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 406
Abstract
This study explores the genetic variation and trait correlations within a collection of 52 ‘Shiqian Taicha’ tea germplasms originating from Shiqian County, Guizhou Province, China. The ‘Shiqian Taicha’ landraces exhibit substantial genetic diversity and are characterized by unique morphological and biochemical attributes. The [...] Read more.
This study explores the genetic variation and trait correlations within a collection of 52 ‘Shiqian Taicha’ tea germplasms originating from Shiqian County, Guizhou Province, China. The ‘Shiqian Taicha’ landraces exhibit substantial genetic diversity and are characterized by unique morphological and biochemical attributes. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) values for the morphological traits ranged from 0.37 to 2.06, with an average value of 1.02, which suggests a greater level of genetic diversity than those of other domestic tea germplasms. The biochemical analysis demonstrated considerable variation, with coefficients of variation (CVs) for biochemical components ranging from 3.73 to 54.05% (mean CV: 20.35%). In addition, 25 germplasms had epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) contents ≥ 10%. The correlation analysis revealed significant associations between morphological traits and biochemical components, with particularly positive correlations between the leaf texture and key biochemical components such as total catechins (TC) and EGCG (p < 0.01). The clustering analysis, which was based on morphological and biochemical profiles, further categorized the tea germplasms into distinct groups. Notably, SWD-G, SLD005, SWXD005, and SWD004 were identified as superior germplasms with comprehensive biochemical qualities and high EGCG contents. These unique resources have potential for the cultivation of specific tea varieties with regional characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants)
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13 pages, 4222 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Calcium Alleviates the Photosynthetic Inhibition and Oxidative Damage of the Tea Plant under Cold Stress
by Siwen Chen, Long Wang, Rui Kang, Chunhui Liu, Liyuan Xing, Shaobo Wu, Zhihui Wang, Chunlai Wu, Qiongqiong Zhou and Renliang Zhao
Horticulturae 2024, 10(7), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070666 - 23 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 843
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+), a second messenger, plays a crucial role in plant growth and development as well as in responding to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, we explored the role of exogenous calcium in alleviating cold stress and examined the [...] Read more.
Calcium (Ca2+), a second messenger, plays a crucial role in plant growth and development as well as in responding to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, we explored the role of exogenous calcium in alleviating cold stress and examined the relationship between calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium channel blockers, lanthanum chloride (LaCl3), in tea plants under cold stress at the physiological and transcriptional levels. Exogenous Ca2+ partially offsets the negative impacts of cold stress which increased the tolerance of tea plants by significantly raising the photochemical efficiency of PSII, protective enzyme activities, and the ABA content, which reduced the relative electrical conductivity (REC) level and the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. At the transcriptome level, exogenous Ca2+ significantly enhanced the expression of key genes involved in cold response pathways. Nevertheless, LaCl3 treatment not only significantly inhibited the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), but also increased cold damage. This study aims to provide essential insight into the role of exogenous Ca2+ in tea plants responding to cold stress, and to better understand the molecular mechanisms that facilitate Ca-mediated cold tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants)
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13 pages, 1398 KiB  
Article
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Enhanced Growth of Tea Trees via Modulating Antioxidant Activity and Secondary Metabolites
by Chen Chen, Jiaying Lai, Hong Chen and Fangyuan Yu
Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060631 - 27 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
Nano-fertilizer has been dubbed ‘the fertilizer of the 21st century’, and it is already being used extensively in agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have excellent biological properties and are expected to be an ideal choice for plant zinc fertilizer. Tea is one of [...] Read more.
Nano-fertilizer has been dubbed ‘the fertilizer of the 21st century’, and it is already being used extensively in agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have excellent biological properties and are expected to be an ideal choice for plant zinc fertilizer. Tea is one of the top three beverages in the world, and improving the quality of tea is a priority in its research field. In this study, different concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg·L−1) of ZnO-NPs were sprayed on tea leaves to investigate their effects on volatile aroma substances and biochemical aspects of tea leaves. The results revealed that various concentrations of ZnO-NPs had different effects on physiological indexes. The concentration of 150 mg·L−1 of ZnO-NPs enhanced chlorophyll content, while the 100 mg·L−1 concentration of ZnO-NPs promoted the accumulation of soluble proteins and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including a decrease in the content of malondialdehyde. In addition, the ZnO-NPs spray reduced the content of tea polyphenols. A total of 27 volatiles were identified under six treatments, with benzene being the common compound with an average content of 45.97%. Ethanolamine and cis-3-hexenyl acetate were the other two major compounds. It was concluded that the presence of ZnO-NPs improved the antioxidant system of teas, increased soluble protein content and provided better reactive oxygen species protection for plants, especially in the case of ZnO-NPs at 100 mg·L−1. We highlighted that ZnO-NPs application was a favorable way to improve tea trees growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants)
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Review

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24 pages, 8881 KiB  
Review
Advances in Purple Tea Research: Chemical Compositions, Anthocyanin Synthesis and Regulation, Processing, and Health Benefits
by Meihong Yan, Xiangxiang Huang, Nianci Xie, Tiyue Zhao, Mingzhi Zhu, Juan Li and Kunbo Wang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010050 - 4 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2520
Abstract
Purple tea, renowned for its anthocyanin content and distinctive purple hue, has gained prominence. The anthocyanin content in purple tea can exceed three times that of traditional green-leaf tea. Purple tea harbors various anthocyanins, implicating intricate pathways of biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation. Concurrently, [...] Read more.
Purple tea, renowned for its anthocyanin content and distinctive purple hue, has gained prominence. The anthocyanin content in purple tea can exceed three times that of traditional green-leaf tea. Purple tea harbors various anthocyanins, implicating intricate pathways of biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation. Concurrently, owing to its distinctive chemical composition, the processing of purple tea may be constrained, potentially influencing the sensory attributes and flavor profile of the tea. The richness of anthocyanins in purple tea has yielded potential health benefits, including antioxidative and anti-cancer properties, rendering purple tea a sought-after commodity in the tea market. However, current research on purple tea remains incomplete, including indistinct networks of anthocyanin biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms, incomplete chemical characterization, and a need for comprehensive investigations into its biological activities. The limited research foundation has greatly reduced the popularity and consumption of purple tea. This paper aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the biosynthesis and regulation of anthocyanins, as well as the chemical compositions, processing, and health benefits of purple tea. This review will provide the groundwork for future efforts in the selection and innovation of purple tea germplasm, purple tea processing, and the expansion of the market for purple tea consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants)
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