The mechanism leading to color differences between purple‐red and green partridge tea leaves

Abstract

Background: Partridge tea (Mallotus oblongifolius) is used as an important beverage and medical plant in Hainan province of China. Although some information about the morphology, cytology, and genetics of partridge tea has been reported in the literature, knowledge about this plant is still very limited. The leaves are the most important part for every tea plant, with a major role in nutrition and other functions. The leaves of different cultivars of partridge tea are different in colors and functions. The molecular mechanism of color formation of partridge tea leaf is still unclear. We reveal the molecular mechanism of the color difference between purple-red and green partridge tea leaves through metabolome and transcriptome analysis.Results: We identified 665 compounds in the two partridge tea cultivars through metabolome analysis. Among these compounds, the content of 324 differed between the two cultivars. We also annotated 50 042 unigenes in the two cultivars by transcriptome analysis; 9665 unigenes were expressed differently between the two cultivars. Using an integrated analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome data, we found that the compounds and genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated in the purple-red leaves, compared with the green leaves. Conclusion: Our results showed that the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes were up-regulated, which resulted in the upregulation of the anthocyanin, making the leaf color purple-red. Our study reveals the molecular mechanism of the color difference between purple-red and green partridge tea, and lays a foundation for the genetic breeding of partridge tea genetic and the utilization of its volatile components.

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Differences in Nonvolatile and Volatile Metabolites and Their Quality Characteristics in Beauty Tea with Different Extents of Punctured Leaves by Tea Green Leafhopper

“…Compared with NPFL samples, the metabolites of isoquercitrin and astragalin involved in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and the metabolites of (−)-EGC and (−)-GC involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were UP-regulated in LPFL and HPFL samples (Figure ). As these metabolites are essential for anthocyanin synthesis, the difference in the anthocyanin content may be the cause of the color differences. , In addition, many studies showed that the flavonoid metabolic pathway or flavone and flavonol metabolic pathway is among the main enrichment pathways of tea plants under cold and drought stress, , indicating that products of these biosynthetic pathways play a positive role in plant stress resistance.…”

“…As these metabolites are essential for anthocyanin synthesis, the difference in the anthocyanin content may be the cause of the color differences. 22,23 In addition, many studies showed that the flavonoid metabolic pathway or flavone and flavonol metabolic pathway is among the main enrichment pathways of tea plants under cold and drought stress, 13,24 indicating that products of these biosynthetic pathways play a positive role in plant stress resistance. clear separation between the NPDT, LPDT, and HPDT samples in negative ion mode, indicating that there were differences in the nonvolatile metabolites of NPDT, LPDT, and HPDT.…”