Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 134-147 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 137 transcripts, and elucidation of complex gene regulatory networks (Futschik et al., 2020). Additionally, transcriptomics can be combined with other omics approaches, such as proteomics and metabolomics, to provide a more integrated understanding of cellular functions and responses. This comprehensive approach is particularly valuable in plant sciences, where it aids in deciphering the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying plant development, stress responses, and metabolic processes. 3.2 Transcriptomics in the study of tea plant biology In tea plant research, transcriptomics has become a vital tool for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying various physiological and developmental processes. This technology enables researchers to analyze gene expression patterns in different tissues and under varying environmental conditions, providing insights into how tea plants respond to stress and how these responses affect tea quality. Transcriptomic analyses have identified numerous genes involved in the biosynthesis of key metabolites that contribute to tea quality, such as catechins, theaflavins, and amino acids. These studies reveal how different genes are regulated and how they interact within metabolic pathways. For instance, a study using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) found significant differences in gene expression related to flavor synthesis pathways when comparing different tea cultivars and tissues (Wang et al., 2020). Tea plants are frequently exposed to abiotic stresses like drought and high temperatures, as well as biotic stresses from pests. Transcriptomic studies have helped to elucidate how tea plants adapt to these stresses by altering gene expression (Figure 1). For example, research has shown that certain transcription factors are involved in the stress response and are linked to the biosynthesis of stress-related metabolites (Liu et al., 2020). Figure 1 Model diagram of tea plant genetic resource mining under abiotic stress using multi-omics (Adapted from Li et al., 2023) Image caption: The diagram, presented in the form of a flowchart, details the progression from genomics and transcriptomics to metabolomics, elucidating how these omics technologies work together to reveal the molecular mechanisms by which tea plants respond to abiotic stress. Specifically, genomic analysis exposes genetic variations and structural features, transcriptomics provides data on gene expression and regulation, while metabolomics analyzes changes in metabolites during these biological processes. This integrated analysis helps researchers gain a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptability and stress resistance of tea plants, providing a scientific basis for tea plant breeding (Adapted from Li et al., 2023)
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