The phenotype of albino tea plants (ATPs) is significantly influenced by temperature regimes and light conditions, which alter certain components of the tea leaves leading to corresponding phenotypic changes. However, the regulatory mechanism of temperature-dependent changes in photosynthetic pigment contents and the resultant leaf colors remain unclear. Here, we examined the chloroplast microstructure, shoot phenotype, photosynthetic pigment content, and the expression of pigment synthesis-related genes in three tea genotypes with different leaf colors under different temperature conditions. The electron microscopy results revealed that all varieties experienced the most severe chloroplast damage at 15 °C, particularly in albino cultivar Baiye 1 (BY), where chloroplast basal lamellae were loosely arranged, and some chloroplasts were even empty. In contrast, the chloroplast basal lamellae at 35 °C and 25 °C were neatly arranged and well-developed, outperforming those observed at 20 °C and 15 °C. Chlorophyll and carotenoid measurements revealed a significant reduction in chlorophyll content under low temperature treatment, peaking at ambient temperature followed by high temperatures. Interestingly, BY showed remarkable tolerance to high temperatures, maintaining relatively high chlorophyll content, indicating its sensitivity primarily to low temperatures. Furthermore, the trends in gene expression related to chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism were largely consistent with the pigment content. Correlation analysis identified key genes responsible for temperature-induced changes in these pigments, suggesting that changes in their expression likely contribute to temperature-dependent leaf color variations.

Shading is an effective agronomic technique to protect tea plants from intense sunlight. However, there are currently very few studies on more effective shading methods to improve the quality of summer tea. In this study, ‘Longjing43’ plants were grown under four different shading treatments for 14 days, with no shading as the control. Among the four shading treatments, double-layer-net shadings had the most positive impact on the tea quality, resulting in higher levels of amino acids but lower levels of tea polyphenols. Additionally, double-layer-net shadings provided more suitable microenvironments for tea plants. The tea leaves in T4 (double nets 50 cm above the plant canopy) contained 16.13 mg∙g⁻¹ of umami and sweet amino acids, which was significantly higher than in other treatments. T4 had the lowest air temperature and the most suitable and stable soil water content. Interestingly, the ratio of red light to far-red light in T4 was only 1.65, much lower than other treatments, which warrants further study. In conclusion, the microenvironment induced by shading can greatly affect the tea quality, and double-layer-net shading is better for improving the quality of summer tea.

L-theanine, a unique non-protein amino acid predominantly found in tea plants (Camellia sinensis), plays a pivotal role in plant responses to abiotic stress and significantly influences tea quality. In this review, the metabolism and transport mechanisms of L-theanine are comprehensively discussed, highlighting its spatial distribution in tea plants, where it is most abundant in young leaves and less so in roots, stems, and older leaves. The biosynthesis of L-theanine occurs through the enzymatic conversion of glutamate and ethylamine, catalyzed by theanine synthase, primarily in the roots, from where it is transported to aerial parts of the plant for further catabolism. Environmental factors such as temperature, light, drought, elevated CO₂, nutrient unavailability, and heavy metals significantly affect theanine biosynthesis and hydrolysis, with plant hormones and transcription factors playing crucial regulatory roles. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that applying L-theanine exogenously improves other crops’ resistance to a range of abiotic stresses, suggesting its potential utility in improving crop resilience amid climate change. This review aims to elucidate the physiological mechanisms and biological functions of L-theanine metabolism under stress conditions, providing a theoretical foundation for enhancing tea quality and stress resistance in tea cultivation.

Tambocerus elongatus (Shen) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a devastating insect pest species of Camellia sinensis, significantly affecting the yield and quality of tea. Due to growing concerns over the irrational use of insecticides and associated food safety, it is crucial to better understand the innate resistance mechanism of tea trees to T. elongatus. This study aims to explore the responses of tea trees to different levels of T. elongatus infestation. We first focused on the primary metabolism and found that the amino acid levels decreased significantly with increasing T. elongatus infestation, while sugar accumulation showed an opposite trend. Moreover, secondary metabolite analysis showed a significant increase in flavonoid compounds and lignin content after T. elongatus infestation. Metabolomics analysis of the flavonoid compounds revealed a decrease in the proanthocyanidin level and an increase in anthocyanidin glycosides (anthocyanins and their derivatives) after T. elongatus infestation. T. elongatus infestation also caused a decrease in the abundance of non-ester catechins and an increase in the abundance of ester catechins. Furthermore, the gene expression analysis revealed that transcripts of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, such as CsCHI, CsF3H, CsF3′H, CsFNS, CsFLS, and CsUFGT, were down-regulated, while genes involved in the lignin pathway were up-regulated by insect infestation, suggesting that lignin probably plays a pivotal role in tea plant response to T. elongatus infestation. Analysis of the expression of related genes indicates that the jasmonate (JA) pathway primarily responds to leafhopper damage. These findings suggest that the lignin pathway and JA play a preferential role in tea plant response to T. elongatus. Furthermore, the production of saccharides and the accumulation of anthocyanin glycosides in the flavonoid metabolic pathway are critical during this stress response. Further exploration of the roles of anthocyanin glycosides and lignin in tea tree resistance could provide a theoretical basis for understanding the defense mechanism of tea trees against T. elongatus damage.