Tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) sustainable production is threatened by frequent drought. Tolerance to drought is a complex phenotypic response, which is controlled by the interactive properties of the plant’s genetic makeup, environment and its growing stage. The present investigation aimed to identify the differential responses of antioxidative enzymes, non-enzymatic antioxidants and status of osmolytes in tea plants under water deficit condition with respect to gradually depleting soil moisture content (SMC) and leaf relative water content (RWC). We examined the consequences of water deficit on the physiological characteristics and biochemical compounds of C. sinensis leaves. Our results indicated that the tolerant genotypes maintained favorable water relations, relatively higher photosynthetic pigments and reduced membrane injury by lowering hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation compared to susceptible cultivars. The relatively lower efficiency of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POX) in susceptible cultivars under subsequent water deficit stress make them more prone to magnified oxidative damage than the tolerant cultivars. Furthermore, a substantial enhancement in the accumulation of osmolytes (proline and glycine betaine) has a great contribution in tolerance during drought. These results provide the insight into the basic mechanisms necessary for induction of antioxidant defense system and accumulation of osmolytes under water deficit conditions.

茶（山茶（L）O.昆茨）的可持续生产受到频繁干旱的威胁。耐旱性是一个复杂的表型反应，受植物遗传组成，环境及其生长阶段的相互作用特性控制。本研究旨在确定在水分亏缺条件下茶树中抗氧化酶，非酶性抗氧化剂和渗透压状态与逐渐减少土壤水分（SMC）和叶片相对水分（RWC）的差异反应。我们研究了缺水对中华绒螯蟹生理特性和生化化合物的影响树叶。我们的结果表明，耐性基因型通过降低过氧化氢（H ₂ O _2）保持了良好的水关系，相对较高的光合色素并减少了膜损伤。）相比易感品种的积累。在随后的水分亏缺胁迫下，易感品种中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和过氧化物酶（POX）的效率相对较低，这使它们比耐性品种更容易受到氧化破坏。此外，渗透液（脯氨酸和甘氨酸甜菜碱）的积累的显着提高对干旱期间的耐性有很大贡献。这些结果提供了在缺水条件下诱导抗氧化剂防御系统和渗透物积累所需的基本机制的见解。