Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 335-343 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 341 7.4 Reconstructing regulatory networks for flavonoid biosynthesis under environmental adaptation Multi-omics approaches and network modeling have revealed the complex regulatory networks controlling flavonoid biosynthesis, including responses to environmental factors such as light, temperature, and stress. Understanding these networks enables the reconstruction of regulatory pathways to optimize flavonoid production under diverse environmental conditions, supporting both crop improvement and adaptation (Qin et al., 2020; Misra et al., 2022). 8 Concluding Remarks Recent multi-omics studies have revealed the complex genetic and biochemical networks underlying flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants. Structural genes (for instance, PAL, CHS, F3H, DFR, ANS, UGTs) and regulation transcription factors (the MYB, bHLH, and WD40 members, particularly) have been identified as being crucial in flavonoid accumulation and control of composition. Light, shading, and nutritional status regulate these pathways via signal transduction networks (e.g., UVR8-mediated signaling), which affect gene expression as well as metabolite profiles. Protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications further refine the biosynthetic machinery leading to flavonoid diversity and abundance in different tissues and developmental stages. Despite significant progress, several challenges remain. The precise mechanisms of environmental signal integration, the functional redundancy among gene family members, and the dynamic regulation of flavonoid transport and storage are not fully understood. Technical bottlenecks include the limited functional validation of candidate genes, difficulties in manipulating complex regulatory networks, and the need for high-resolution spatial and temporal omics data. Additionally, translating molecular insights into practical breeding strategies for improved tea quality and stress resilience remains a major hurdle. Future research will be complemented by the integration of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to construct integrated regulatory networks and predictive models. Improvements in gene editing, single-cell omics, and high-throughput phenotyping will speed functional validation and targeted breeding. Interdisciplinary approaches adopting plant biology, computational modeling, and synthetic biology hold promise for engineering tea plants with optimal flavonoid profiles, enhanced health benefits, and enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses. Acknowledgments The authors sincerely thank Ms. Liu for her generous support and assistance in the process of information collection and data organization. The authors also extend their heartfelt gratitude to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions during the review process. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Reference Cao Y., Mei Y., Zhang R., Zhong Z., Yang X., Xu C., Chen K., and Li X., 2024, Transcriptional regulation of flavonol biosynthesis in plants, Horticulture Research, 11: 043. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae043 Chen C., Wang J., Pan D., Wang X., Xu Y., Yan J., Wang L., Yang X., Yang M., and Liu G., 2023, Applications of multi-omics analysis in human diseases, MedComm, 4(3): e315. https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.315 Chen D., Xiao Y., Zheng X., Sun H., Zhang C., Zhu J., and Xue T., 2025, Seasonal dynamics and molecular regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk, Frontiers in Plant Science, 16: 1525226. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1525226 D’Amelia V., Aversano R., Chiaiese P., and Carputo D., 2018, The antioxidant properties of plant flavonoids: their exploitation by molecular plant breeding, Phytochemistry Reviews, 17: 611-625. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-018-9568-y
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