Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 134-147 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 139 Figure 2 Overview of multi-omics approaches in crop studies (Adapted from Yang et al., 2021) Image caption: The diagram explicitly marks the progression from genomics and transcriptomics to proteomics and phenomics, reflecting the complex flow of information from genes to phenotypes. The illustration indicates that genomics focuses on the genetic information in DNA, transcriptomics on the information from mRNA transcripts, and proteomics on the expression of proteins encoded by genes. Additionally, metabolomics and ionomics bridge proteomics and phenomics, detailing how proteins influence the dynamics of metabolites and ions. The diagram also highlights how biotic and abiotic factors impact this multi-omics network, underscoring the significant influence of environmental factors on crop phenotypes (Adapted from Yang et al., 2021) 4.2 Case studies of integrated omics in tea science In tea research, the integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of tea plant biology and improving tea quality. For example, integrated omics approaches have been used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of key secondary metabolites, such as catechins and theaflavins, which contribute to the flavor and health benefits of tea. By linking gene expression data with metabolite profiles, researchers have identified specific genes and metabolic pathways that are critical for the production of these compounds (Woodward et al., 2021). Another notable application of integrated omics in tea science is the study of tea plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. By analyzing the transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in tea plants under stress conditions, researchers have identified stress-responsive genes and metabolites that play key roles in enhancing stress tolerance. These findings have important implications for developing stress-resistant tea cultivars and improving tea crop resilience (Savoi et al., 2022). Furthermore, integrated omics approaches have been applied to study the effects of different cultivation and processing methods on tea quality, along with the dynamic alterations of key flavor substances during tea processing. By linking transcriptomic and metabolomic data, researchers have gained insights into how various factors, such as soil composition, climate, and processing techniques, influence the metabolic profile and quality of tea. This information is valuable for optimizing tea production practices to enhance flavor and health-promoting properties (Jamil et al., 2020). The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics in tea research offers significant benefits for understanding the complex interactions between genes and metabolites, identifying biomarkers, and improving tea quality and stress resilience. This integrative approach provides a powerful tool for advancing our knowledge of tea plant biology and enhancing tea production. 5 Applications in Tea Breeding and Agriculture 5.1 Enhancing tea quality through omics technologies The application of omics technologies, such as metabolomics and transcriptomics, has significantly enhanced tea quality by enabling the identification of key metabolites and their associated genetic pathways. For example,
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