Plant Gene and Trait 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 152-161 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 152 Research Insight Open Access Field Performance of Heat-Tolerant Traits in Tea and Cultivation Factors Affecting Summer Leaf Functional Stability Chunyu Li, Lianming Zhang, Xiaocheng Wang Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: xiaocheng.wang@cuixi.org Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol.16, No.4 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0017 Received: 19 Jun., 2025 Accepted: 21 Jul., 2025 Published: 30 Jul., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li C.Y., Zhang L.M., and Wang X.C., 2025, Field performance of heat-tolerant traits in tea and cultivation factors affecting summer leaf functional stability, Plant Gene and Trait, 16(4): 152-161 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0017) Abstract This study mainly reviewed the performance of tea trees in the face of high temperatures, compared the field performance of different tea tree varieties under high temperatures, analyzed the genetic reasons behind them, and also examined how planting methods such as shading and increasing watering frequency help tea trees maintain leaf activity, increase yield and quality in summer. It emphasized that to ensure tea trees grow well even in hot weather, choosing the right variety is as important as doing a good job in field management. It also summarizes some tea garden management methods suitable for high-temperature summer weather, as well as several key criteria for judging whether a tea tree variety is heat-tolerant. This study aims to provide some theoretical basis and technical references for the breeding of more heat-tolerant tea tree varieties and the establishment of an efficient planting system suitable for summer. Keywords Tea plant; Heat tolerance; Summer cultivation; Leaf stability; Climate adaptation 1 Introduction The global temperature is constantly rising, and extreme high-temperature weather is becoming increasingly common, which has a significant impact on the yield of tea trees and the quality of tea (Huang and Chen, 2024). High temperatures can make the leaves of tea plants more prone to water loss, reduce chlorophyll, weaken antioxidant capacity, and damage cell membranes more easily, thereby affecting the normal functions of tea plants and the economic value of tea leaves (Seth et al., 2021). In addition, high temperatures will also slow down the energy metabolism of tea plants and increase reactive oxygen species in their bodies, which will further undermine the stability of leaves (Huang et al., 2024). In recent years, many studies have employed molecular biology and omics methods to identify numerous genes and metabolites related to heat resistance. For instance, substances like heat shock proteins (HSPs) and heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) play a crucial role in helping tea plants tolerate heat. At high temperatures, those heat-resistant tea tree varieties exhibit stronger antioxidant capacity and accumulate more flavonoids in their bodies. Some related genes, such as FLS, HSP90 and HSP70, are expressed earlier or more strongly in heat-tolerant varieties (Shen et al., 2019; Seth et al., 2021). These findings provide us with a theoretical basis for screening and cultivating heat-resistant tea trees. In daily planting and management, methods such as reasonable watering, shading and fertilization can also protect tea trees in high-temperature weather. These practices can help tea plants better retain water and balance nutrients, enhance resistance to high temperatures, and also promote the accumulation of some protective metabolites in tea plants, thereby maintaining the activity and stability of leaves (Seth et al., 2021; Huang et al., 2024). This study mainly observed the performance of different tea plants under high temperatures, analyzed the impact of various field management methods on leaf function in summer, and also explored how genes, metabolites and management measures work together. This study hopes to provide some theoretical support and practical experience for the screening of heat-resistant tea trees and scientific planting in summer.
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