Stimulation in primary and secondary metabolism by elevated carbon dioxide alters green tea quality in Camellia sinensis L.

ABSTRACT: Rising CO₂ concentration, a driving force of climate change, is impacting global food security by affecting plant physiology. Nevertheless, the effects of elevated CO₂ on primary and secondary metabolism in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) still remain largely unknown. Here we showed that exposure of tea plants to elevated CO₂ (800 µmol mol^-1 for 24 d) remarkably improved both photosynthesis and respiration in tea leaves. Furthermore, elevated CO₂ increased the concentrations of soluble sugar, starch and total carbon, but decreased the total nitrogen concentration, resulting in an increased carbon to nitrogen ratio in tea leaves. Among the tea quality parameters, tea polyphenol, free amino acid and theanine concentrations increased, w

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5554289 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature