Journal of Tea Science Research, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 38-46 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 40 antioxidant and osmoprotectant systems. Unstable signals and some transcription factors (e.g., bHLH, WRKY, NAC) consolidate responses to multiple stresses, achieving maximum energy efficiency and prolonging leaf lifespan (Zhang et al., 2017; Ni et al., 2024). Figure 1 Relative expression levels of the studied genes in response to cold and drought (Adopted from Samarina et al., 2020) 3 Genetic Basis of Stress Resistance in Tea Plants 3.1 Whole-genome sequencing and population genetic diversity High-quality reference genomes and resequencing of diverse tea accessions have revealed the extensive genetic diversity and population structure of tea plants. The study identified three populations, domestication signatures, and hundreds of allelic variations for quality and stress resistance traits. Gene family expansions for stress responses such as terpene synthases have been involved in adaptation and domestication (Xia et al., 2020). Phased genome assemblies also uncover allelic imbalance and structural variations that are accountable for stress tolerance. 3.2 Stress-related gene families Certain gene families play significant roles in abiotic and biotic stresses of the tea plant. WRKY, NAC, MYB, bZIP, HD-Zip, and HSP transcription factors are differentially regulated during abiotic and biotic stresses and regulate downstream defense and adaptation processes (Shen et al., 2022). For example, WRKY48 induces cold and pest resistance, while HD-Zip and BZR1 families are implicated in hormone and stress signaling (Shen et al., 2019). The NB-ARC domain-containing genes also play roles in disease and cold resistance (Li et al., 2025). 3.3 Signaling pathways and regulatory networks Tea plants also use complex signaling networks such as abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to regulate stress responses. Transcriptomics indicate ABA, ethylene, and JA pathway genes to be induced in drought and cold stress with adaptation being controlled by hormone and
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