Evaluation on Suitability of Camellia sinensis Planting Based on GIS

Camellia sinensis is an important commercial crop in China. Suitability evaluation of tea tree planting, which is an embodiment of agricultural planting based on Geographic Information System（GIS）, includes overlay analysis, hierarchical analysis,artificial intellegence, multivariable linear regression and fuzzy evaluation. Via a series of functions of GIS such as data query, retrieve and management, we can be informed of current situation and problems in tea plant development, find out areas which are appropriate or inappropriate for Camellia sinensis planting and figure out corresponding planting schemes and policies. Science and technology are the basic solution to modernization of Camellia sinensis planting. It is necessary to set up decision information and plantation management systems in agriculture on account of GIS, which are important channels to regionalization of Camellia sinensis planting suitability.

Genome-Wide Characterization of the Cellulose Synthase Gene Superfamily in Tea Plants(Camellia sinensis)

The cellulose synthase gene superfamily,including Cellulose synthase A(CesA)and cellulose synthase-like(Csl)gene families,is responsible for the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose,respectively.The CesA/Csl genes are vital for abiotic stress resistance and shoot tenderness regulation of tea plants(Camellia sinensis).However,the CesA/Csl gene family has not been extensively studied in tea plants.Here,we identified 53 CsCesA/Csl genes in tea plants.These genes were grouped into five subfamilies(CsCesA,CsCslB,CsCslD,CsCslE,CsCslG)based on the phylogenetic relationships with Arabidopsis and rice.The analysis of chromosome distribution,gene structure,protein domain and motif revealed that most genes in CsCesA,CsCslD and CsCslE subfamilies were conserved,whereas CsCslB and CsCslG subfamily members are highly diverged.The transcriptome analysis showed that most CsCesA/Csl genes displayed tissue-specific expression pattern.In addition,members of CsCslB4,CsCesA1/3/6,CsCslB3/4,CsCslD3,CsCslE1 and CsCslG2/3 subfamilies were up-regulated under drought and cold stresses,indicating their potential roles in regulating stress tolerance in tea plants.Furthermore,the expression levels of CsCslG2_6 and CsCslD3_5 in different tissues and cultivars,respectively,were positively correlated with the cellulose content that is negatively related with shoot tenderness.Thus,these two genes were speculated to be involved in the regulation of shoot tenderness in tea plants.Our findings may help elucidate the evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the CsCesA/Csl genes in tea plants,and provide more candidate genes responsible for stress tolerance and tenderness regulation in tea plants for future functional research.

Analysis and Evaluation of Biochemical Components in Bitter Tea Plant Germplasms

Bitter tea is a special kind of tea germplasm in China.The major biochemical components of 24 bitter teas and other 8 Camellia sinensis var.sinensis and 8 C.sinensis var.assamica tea germplasms,which were stored in the China National Germplasm Hangzhou Tea Repository(CNGHTR),were analyzed and evaluated.The results showed that no significant differences of major biochemical components affecting the tea quality were found between bitter tea and common tea.According to the processing suitability index,bitter tea was suitable for the manufacturing of black tea;while according to evolutionary indices such as the composition and content of catechin,bitter tea was similar to C.sinensis var.assamica belonging to the relatively primitive type in evolution.The results of cluster analysis indicated that bitter tea was clustered with C.sinensis var.assamica,so it could be considered to belong to C.sinensis var.assamica.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Wild Tea Plants in Yunnan Province Using EST-SSR Markers

In this study, 27 pairs of EST-SSR primers were employed to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of 100 wild tea plant germplasm re- sources and 22 cultivars, according to the results, a total of 88 polymorphic bands were amplified with 27 pairs of primers; the variation of effective alleles accounted for 69.01% ; a total of 183 genotypes were detected, with a variation range of 4 -11 ; averagely 6.78 genotypes were amplified with each primer pair; Shannon index （I） of 27 primer pairs ranged from 0.32 to I. 35, with an average of 0.88 ; the observed heterozygosity （0.52） was basically consistent with the expected het- erozygosity （0.52） ; the average polymorphism heterozygosity was 0.48, which was very close to 0.50 ; the average Nei＇s index was 0.51, which was higher than 0. 50 ; the average polymorphism information content （PIC） was 0.52, which was higher than 0.50, indicating high genetic diversity among wild tea germplasm resources in Yuunan Province. According to the clustering results, based on geographical origins and genetic backgrounds, 122 materials were clustered into 14 categories. Dendrogram based on Nei＇s genetic distance revealed complex genetic relationships among wild tea germplasm resources in Yunnan Province. This study provided certain reference for subsequent preservation, development and research of wild tea germplasm resources in China.

Cloning and Expression of Two MYB Transcription Factors in Tea Plant(Camellia sinensis)

MYB transcription factors represent a family of genes that include the conserved MYB DNA-binding domain,and they are widely involved in the regulation of plant development and secondary metabolism.In this study,Part of sequences of two MYB transcription factors was determined through the cDNA microarray hybridization and selection of cDNA library derived from tender shoots.The full-length cDNAs of the genes were obtained with RT-PCR and RACE,and they were 1 132 bp and 1 020 bp,named as CsMYB1 and CsMYB2 (GenBank accession No.HQ660373 and HQ660374), and contained ORFs of 879 bp and 675 bp encoding 292 and 224 amino acids,respectively.Sequences analysis showed that the deduced protein molecular weight of the two genes were 32.9 ku and 25.4 ku, and the proteins contained two conserved MYB domains near the N-terminus and a conserved C1 motif near the R3 domains.The deduced amino acid sequence of CsMYB1 and CsMYB2 from tea plant showed high identity with that of other plants,for instance CsMYB1 shared 57%homology with MYB1 of Gossypium hirsutum and CsMYB2 shared 75% homology with MYBC2 of Vitis vinifera.The result of real time-PCR analysis showed the two genes were expressed constitutively in all tissues with different expression levels,e.g.the relative expression level of CsMYB2 in leaf was hundred times higher than that in root.Additionally,shading enhanced CsMYB1 expression,while the treatment did not alter the expression level of CsMYB2.