Transcriptome-Based Analysis of the Mechanisms Underlying Differences in Cold Tolerance Between &#x02018;Longjing 43&#x02019; and Its Variant Cultivars

XUE Huaqian; CHEN Yao; YI Min; CUI Ye; WANG Xinchao; DING Changqing; YU Jizhong

doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.04.002

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 4: 623 - 636

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.04.002

Research Paper

Transcriptome-Based Analysis of the Mechanisms Underlying Differences in Cold Tolerance Between ‘Longjing 43’ and Its Variant Cultivars

XUE Huaqian ,
CHEN Yao ,
YI Min ,
CUI Ye ,
WANG Xinchao ,
DING Changqing ,
YU Jizhong

Expand

1. Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Hangzhou 310008, China;
2. Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China

Received date: 2026-03-08

Revised date: 2026-05-14

Online published: 2026-08-17

Fold

Abstract

Low temperature is one of the major environmental factors limiting tea production. Elucidating the regulatory network underlying cold tolerance in tea plants and identifying key functional genes provide a theoretical basis for cold-resistant cultivar breeding through molecular approaches. In this study, ‘Longjing 43’ (LJ43) and its closely related variants ‘Zhongcha Huangya 5’ (ZH5) and ‘Zhongcha 108’ (ZC108), which share highly similar genetic backgrounds, were used as materials. Based on phenotypic observations and measurements of relative electrolyte leakage (REL), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, the cold tolerance of the three cultivars was found to be in the following order: ZH5 > ZC108 > LJ43. Transcriptome sequencing identified 2 384, 4 186, and 4 434 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these DEGs, 999 were shared by all three cultivars. Pathway enrichment analysis reveals that these common DEGs were significantly enriched in early cold-responsive biological processes, including plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling cascade and transcriptional regulation, which constituted the core factors underlying the divergent cold resistance of the three tea cultivars. Further analysis identifies cultivar-specific DEGs in LJ43 (899), ZC108 (1 722) and ZH5 (1 504), which were separately enriched in distinct substance metabolism pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further demonstrates that modules significantly correlated with cold treatment exhibited obvious disparities among the three cultivars. In summary, these results indicate that tea cultivars adopt genotype-specific strategies to cope with cold stress, and such differential responses serve as a critical contributor to the inter-cultivar variation in cold tolerance. This study clarified the molecular basis underlying the differences in cold tolerance between LJ43 and its variants, expanded the current understanding of cold tolerance regulation in tea plants, and provided a theoretical foundation for cold-resistance breeding.

Key words： tea plant; low temperature; cold tolerance; transcriptome; regulation pathways

Cite this article

XUE Huaqian , CHEN Yao , YI Min , CUI Ye , WANG Xinchao , DING Changqing , YU Jizhong . Transcriptome-Based Analysis of the Mechanisms Underlying Differences in Cold Tolerance Between ‘Longjing 43’ and Its Variant Cultivars[J]. Journal of Tea Science, 2026 , 46(4) : 623 -636 . DOI: 10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.04.002

References

[1] Qian Z F, He L L, Li F S.Understanding cold stress response mechanisms in plants: an overview[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2024, 15: 1443317. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1443317.
[2] Ding Y L, Shi Y T, Yang S H. Regulatory networks underlying plant responses and adaptation to cold stress [J]. Annual Review of Genetics, 2024, 58: 43-65. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genet-111523-102226.
[3] Routaboul J M, Fischer S F, Browse J.Trienoic fatty acids are required to maintain chloroplast function at low temperatures[J]. Plant Physiology, 2000, 124(4): 1697-1705.
[4] Ma Y, Dai X Y, Xu Y Y, et al.COLD1 confers chilling tolerance in rice[J]. Cell, 2015, 160(6): 1209-1221.
[5] Liu Q B, Ding Y L, Shi Y T, et al. The calcium transporter ANNEXIN1 mediates cold-induced calcium signaling and freezing tolerance in plants [J]. The EMBO Journal, 2021, 40(2): e104559. https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020104559.
[6] Iqbal Z, Memon A G, Ahmad A, et al.Calcium mediated cold acclimation in plants: underlying signaling and molecular mechanisms[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022, 13: 855559. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.855559.
[7] Jung J H, Seo P J, Oh E, et al.Temperature perception by plants[J]. Trends in Plant Science, 2023, 28(8): 924-940.
[8] Jia Y X, Ding Y L, Shi Y T, et al.The cbfs triple mutants reveal the essential functions of CBFs in cold acclimation and allow the definition of CBF regulons in Arabidopsis[J]. New Phytologist, 2016, 212(2): 345-353.
[9] Hu Z, Ban Q Y, Hao J, et al.Genome-wide characterization of the C-repeat Binding Factor (CBF) gene family involved in the response to abiotic stresses in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2020, 11: 921. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00921.
[10] Yu K K, Guo D Y, Tang X Y, et al. Precise control of volatile glucosylation in tea plants by CBF4, WRKY4,an atypical bHLH transcription factor [J]. Plant Physiology, 2026: kiag145. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag145.
[11] Shao C Y, Zhu Q, Xu R, et al. The CsMYB44-CsICE1 module mediates flavonoid and catechin biosynthesis to regulate cold tolerance in tea plants (Camellia sinensis) [J]. The Plant Journal, 2026, 125(4): e70737. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70737.
[12] Peng J, Li N N, Di T M, et al.The interaction of CsWRKY4 and CsOCP3 with CsICE1 regulates CsCBF1/3 and mediates stress response in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)[J]. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2022, 199: 104892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2022.104892.
[13] Song Y, Zhang X Y, Li M Z, et al.The direct targets of CBFs: in cold stress response and beyond[J]. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2021, 63(11): 1874-1887.
[14] Zhou F, Gao Y R, Wang H N, et al. CsERF21-l-CsASA2 module positively regulates cold tolerance by promoting tryptophan biosynthesis in tea plants [J]. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2025, 221: 109610.https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.plaphy.2025.109610.
[15] Di T M, Wu Y D, Wang J, et al.CsCIPK20 improves tea plant cold tolerance by modulating ascorbic acid synthesis through attenuation of CsCSN5-CsVTC1 interaction[J]. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2025, 48(5): 3337-3351.
[16] Pi X T, Chang N, Zhou Z W, et al. CsFAD2 and CsFAD5 are key genes for C18:2 fatty acid pathway-mediated cold tolerance in tea (Camellia sinensis) [J]. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2023, 210: 105317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105317.
[17] Wang X C, Zhao Q Y, Ma C L, et al. Global transcriptome profiles of Camellia sinensis during cold acclimation [J]. BMC Genomics, 2013, 14: 415. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-14-415.
[18] Wang L, Yao L N, Hao X Y, et al.Transcriptional and physiological analyses reveal the association of ROS metabolism with cold tolerance in tea plant[J]. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2019, 160: 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2018.11.011.
[19] Hao X Y, Tang H, Wang B, et al.Integrative transcriptional and metabolic analyses provide insights into cold spell response mechanisms in young shoots of the tea plant[J]. Tree Physiology, 2018, 38(11): 1655-1671.
[20] 陈文怀. 茶树新品种: 龙井43[J]. 农业科技通讯, 1982(8): 33.
Chen W H.New tea cultivar: Longjing 43[J]. Bulletin of Agricultural Science and Technology, 1982(8): 33.
[21] 杨亚军, 杨跃华, 曾建明. 早生优质适制名优绿茶新品种: 中茶108选育研究[J]. 中国茶叶, 2003, 25(2): 12-14.
Yang Y J, Yang Y H, Zeng J M.Early-blooming high-quality adapted famous green tea new cultivar: research on the breeding of Zhongcha 108[J]. China Tea, 2003, 25(2): 12-14.
[22] Li N N, Yue C, Cao H L, et al.Transcriptome sequencing dissection of the mechanisms underlying differential cold sensitivity in young and mature leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis)[J]. Journal of Plant Physiology, 2018, 224/225: 144-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2018.03.017.
[23] Wang X C, Feng H, Chang Y X, et al. Population sequencing enhances understanding of tea plant evolution [J]. Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1): 4447. https://doi.org/10.1038/
s41467-020-18228-8.
[24] Shen J Z, Zhang D Y, Zhou L, et al.Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of Camellia sinensis L. cv. ‘Suchazao’ exposed to temperature stresses reveals modification in protein synthesis and photosynthetic and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways[J]. Tree Physiology, 2019, 39(9): 1583-1599.
[25] Li M, Wang C H, Shi J L, et al.Abscisic acid and putrescine synergistically regulate the cold tolerance of melon seedlings[J]. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2021, 166: 1054-1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.07.011.
[26] Hu Y R, Jiang L Q, Wang F, et al.Jasmonate regulates the INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION-C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR/DRE BINDING FACTOR1 cascade and freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis[J]. The Plant Cell, 2013, 25(8): 2907-2924.
[27] Deng Y Q, Zhu Z K, Chen J, et al.Comparative transcriptomics of indica and japonica rice roots under heat stress reveals the crucial role of OsMAPK3 in heat response[J]. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2025, 221: 109668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109668.
[28] Zhang Z Y, Li J H, Li F, et al.OsMAPK3 phosphorylates OsbHLH002/OsICE1 and inhibits its ubiquitination to activate OsTPP1 and enhances rice chilling tolerance[J]. Developmental Cell, 2017, 43(6): 731-743.
[29] Chan W K, Tan L T, Chan K G, et al. Nerolidol: a sesquiterpene alcohol with multi-faceted pharmacological and biological activities [J]. Molecules, 2016, 21(5): 529. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050529.
[30] Xu H Y, Yu C.Transcriptomic analysis reveals crucial biological pathways associated with cold response in Camellia weiningensis in Guizhou Province, China[J]. Scientia Horticulturae, 2022, 295: 110883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110883.
[31] Wang H P, Chen W Q, Xu Z Y, et al.Functions of WRKYs in plant growth and development[J]. Trends in Plant Science, 2023, 28(6): 630-645.
[32] Xie Z L, Nolan T M, Jiang H, et al.AP2/ERF transcription factor regulatory networks in hormone and abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2019, 10: 228. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00228.
[33] Wang Y X, Zhang M H, Wu C Z, et al.SlWRKY51 regulates proline content to enhance chilling tolerance in tomato[J]. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2024, 47(12): 5104-5114.
[34] Xue C J, Huang X Z, Zhao Y C. CsWRKY29, a key transcription factor in tea plant for freezing tolerance, ABA sensitivity,sugar metabolism [J]. Scientific Reports, 2024, 14(1): 28620. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80143-5.
[35] Cheng Y H, Ban Q Y, Mao J L, et al. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals that amino acid biosynthesis may determine differences in cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive tea cultivars [J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023, 24(3): 1907. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031907.
[36] Jin J Y, Zhao M Y, Yu K K, et al. Squalene acts as a feedback signaling molecule in facilitating bidirectional communication between tea plants [J]. Science Advances, 2025, 11(7): ads4888. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads4888.
[37] Zhang Z, Yuan L, Dang J, et al. 5-Aminolevulinic acid improves cold resistance through regulation of SlMYB4/SlMYB88-SlGSTU43 module to scavenge reactive oxygen species in tomato [J]. Horticulture Research, 2024, 11(3): uhae026. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae026.
[38] Chen X J, Zhou N, Yu L S, et al. Plant resistance inducer AMHA enhances antioxidant capacities to promote cold tolerance by regulating the upgrade of glutathione S-transferase in tea plant [J]. Horticulture Research, 2025, 12(6): uhaf073. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf073.
[39] Li Y F, Chen Y Q, Chen J H, et al.Flavonoid metabolites in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) stress response: insights from bibliometric analysis[J]. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2023, 202: 107934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107934.
[40] Peng J, Liu E B, Wu Y D, et al.CsWRKY57L enhances freezing tolerance through flavonoid accumulation and modulates growth via SWEETs in tea plants[J]. Horticultural Plant Journal, 2025, 12(3): 720-734.
[41] Zhou L, He Y J, Li J, et al.CBFs Function in anthocyanin biosynthesis by interacting with MYB113 in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)[J]. Plant and Cell Physiology, 2020, 61(2): 416-426.

Options

Outlines

模态框（Modal）标题

Abstract

Cite this article

References