Metabolic analyses reveal different mechanisms of leaf color change in two purple-leaf tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivars.

ABSTRACT: Purple-leaf tea plants, as anthocyanin-rich cultivars, are valuable materials for manufacturing teas with unique colors or flavors. In this study, a new purple-leaf cultivar "Zixin" ("ZX") was examined, and its biochemical variation and mechanism of leaf color change were elucidated. The metabolomes of leaves of "ZX" at completely purple, intermediately purple, and completely green stages were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Metabolites in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway remained at high levels in purple leaves, whereas intermediates of porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis exhibited high levels in green leaves. In addition, fatty acid metabolism was more active in purple leaves

SUBMITTER: Shen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5802758 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature