Comparative analysis of the response and gene regulation in cold resistant and susceptible tea plants

Abstract

Cold environment is the main constraint for tea plants (Camellia sinensis) distribution and tea farming. We identified two tea cultivars, called var. sinensis cv. Shuchazao (SCZ) with a high cold-tolerance and var. assamica cv. Yinghong9 (YH9) with low cold-tolerance. To better understand the response mechanism of tea plants under cold stress for improving breeding, we compared physiological and biochemical responses, and associated genes expression in response to 7-day and 14-day cold acclimation, followed by 7-day de-acclimation in these two tea cultivars. We found that the low EL50, low Fv/Fm, and high sucrose and raffinose accumulation are responsible for higher cold tolerance in SCZ comparing with YH9. We then measured the expression of 14 key homologous genes, known as involved in these responses in other plants, for each stages of treatment in both cultivars using RT-qPCR. Our results suggested that the increased expression of CsCBF1 and CsDHNs coupling with the accumulation of sucrose play key roles in conferring higher cold resistance in SCZ. Our findings have revealed key genes regulation responsible for cold resistance, which help to understand the cold-resistant mechanisms and guide breeding in tea plants.

Characterization and Alternative Splicing Profiles of the Lipoxygenase Gene Family in Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

“…The quality of tea leaves and thr abundance of natural flavor molecules are affected by the environment. To date, it is known that various abiotic stresses such as cold ( Ban et�al. 2017 ), nitrogen ( Li et�al.…”

The role of C2H2 zinc finger proteins in plant responses to abiotic stresses

“…Low temperature is a major environmental stress that affects plant growth and productivity. Many temperate plants acquire increased freezing tolerance upon exposure to low temperatures via a complex adaptive process known as cold acclimation (Amit et al 2017, Ban et al ). C2H2 zinc finger proteins play an important role in plant tolerance to low temperatures through both abscisic acid (ABA)‐dependent and ABA‐independent pathways.…”

Comprehensive profiling of alternative splicing landscape during cold acclimation in tea plant

“…In addition, a total of 137 differential metabolites were finally identified and classified by LC-MS/MS, of which the majorities were flavonoids, sugars and fatty acids. We analyzed the changes of these three metabolite categories together with glucose, fructose, sucrose and raffinose measured in the previous study [28] during cold acclimation (Fig. 7c).…”

“…Then the tea plants (30-40 cm) were transferred to a growth chamber at temperatures of 25°C/20°C for daytime/night-time. The culture conditions and treatments were described previously [28]. The tea plants were subjected to cold acclimation and de-acclimation with the treatments as follows: Ten well-grown plants were collected for treatments of nonacclimation (NA), CS (sampling after 10°C for 6 h), CA1 (sampling after 10/4°C, day/night for 7 days), and CA2 (sampling after 4/0°C, day/night for another 7 days).…”

“…In tea plant, the contents of sucrose, glucose and fructose were found to be constantly elevated during cold acclimation [27]. In addition, significantly increased expression of CBF (C-repeat-binding factor) and DHN (dehydrin) occurs during cold acclimation [28]. Both increases in sugar contents and expression of related genes can improve the cold resistance in tea plant.…”