Roles of specialized metabolites in biological function and environmental adaptability of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) as a metabolite studying model

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2020.11.004

Journal of Advanced Research

Volume 34, December 2021, Pages 159-171

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2020.11.004 Get rights and content

Under a Creative Commons license

open access

Abstract

Background

Tea is the second most popular beverage globally after water and contains abundant specialized metabolites. These metabolites give tea unique quality and are beneficial to human health. Some secondary metabolites are produced to help plants, including tea plants (Camellia sinensis), adapt to variable environment and grow normally. Therefore, whether abundant specialized metabolites have biological functions and play roles in the environmental adaptability of tea plants is of interest.

Aim of review

Research progress regarding the biological functions of specialized metabolites (including catechins, l-theanine, caffeine, and volatile compounds) in tea plants is summarized. Furthermore, the main and characteristic scientific questions regarding tea plant growth in contrast to other economic crops are proposed, including (i) how tea plants adapt to acid soils, (ii) why tea plants have fewer diseases, and (iii) why tea plants and tea green leafhoppers have a symbiotic relationship. Accordingly, the potential adaptive mechanism is summarized, which is related to the function of specialized metabolites in tea plants.

Key scientific concepts of review

This is the most in-depth investigation of biological functions of volatile compounds in tea plants. Direct in vivo evidence in tea plants shows that volatile compounds help defend against insects through plant-to-plant signaling. Furthermore, abundant specialized metabolites are speculated to contribute to the environmental adaptability of tea plants. However, further in vivo evidence and exploration of relevant mechanisms are required for all aspects discussed. This review provides an important reference for basic biological research on the tea plant as a specialized metabolite studying model.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Camellia sinensis

Tea

Basic biology

Specialized metabolite

Biological function

Environmental adaptability

Cited by (0)

Lanting Zeng is a post-doctor at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China. She received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the South China Botanical Garden. Her research interests focus on the biosynthesis, regulation mechanisms and biological functions of volatile compounds in tea plants. She has published 40 papers (12 papers as the first author) in Science Citation Index journals and H-index is 12.

Xiaochen Zhou is a master student at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China. She received her bachelor in South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interest focuses on the epigenetic regulation mechanism of formation of tea volatile compounds. She has published 4 papers as co-author in Science Citation Index journals.

Yinyin Liao is a PhD student at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China. She received her master in Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interest focuses on the biosynthesis and regulation mechanisms of quality- and defense-related metabolites in tea plants exposed to biostresses. She has published 30 papers (6 papers as the first author) in Science Citation Index journals and H-index is 8.

Ziyin Yang is a professor at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China. He received his PhD in Tea Science from the Zhejiang University, China. His research interests focus on the biosynthesis, regulation mechanisms and biological functions of specialized metabolites in tea plants. He has published 86 papers (70 papers as the corresponding author or first author) in Science Citation Index journals and H-index is 26.

: Peer review under responsibility of Cairo University.