Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Mechanism Underlying the <i>Serendipita indica</i>-Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Tea Plants.

ABSTRACT: Drought stress significantly impairs the output of tea plants and the quality of tea products. Although Serendipita indica has demonstrated the ability to enhance drought tolerance in host plants, its impact on tea plants (Camellia sinensis) experiencing drought stress is unknown. This study assessed the response of tea plants by inoculating S. indica under drought conditions. Phenotypic and physiological analyses demonstrated that S. indica mitigated drought damage in tea plants by regulating osmotic equilibrium and antioxidant enzyme activity. Metabolome analysis showed that S. indica promoted the accumulation of flavonoid metabolites, including naringin, (-)-epiafzelechin, naringenin chalcone, and dihydromyricetin, while inhibiting the content of amino

SUBMITTER: Shen G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11990811 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature