Journal of Tea Science Research, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 38-46 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 41 redox cross-talk (Shen et al., 2019). Regulation miRNAs and transcription factors further tune these networks (Zhou et al., 2019). 3.4 Key structural and functional genes Genes coding for osmoprotectants, antioxidant enzymes (e.g., SODs, peroxidases), transporters (e.g., CsGAT1 for GABA, SAT for cysteine), and lignin and flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes are major contributors to stress tolerance. CsSOD genes, for instance, are induced by cold-drought, and CsGAT1 enhances cold tolerance by controlling GABA (Zhou et al., 2019; Li et al., 2024). The genes CsHCT and laccase control lignin synthesis and impart abiotic and biotic stress resistance. Regulation by alternative splicing and miRNA further confers complexity on gene performance under stress (Zhou et al., 2019). 3.5 Advances in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), QTL mapping, and genomic selection (GS) Next-generation sequencing and new genomic tools have enabled GWAS, QTL mapping, and genomic selection in tea. They have also been employed to discover candidate genes and markers related to resistance to stress for marker-assisted and genomic selection for breeding stress-resistant cultivars (Xia et al., 2020). SSR marker construction and multi-omics integration also accelerate genetic improvement. 4 Advances in Multi-Omics Research on Stress Resistance in Tea Plants 4.1 Transcriptomic insights into stress-responsive networks Transcriptome analysis revealed that tea plants are capable of activating massive gene networks in response to abiotic and biotic stress. Differentially expressed genes tend to be enriched within flavonoid biosynthesis, hormone signaling, and disease resistance pathways. Transcriptome analysis of pathogen and cold stress identified key NB-ARC domain genes and highlighted the central role played by the flavonoid pathway for stress adaptation (Li et al., 2025). During drought stress, transcriptomics has identified genes involved in photosynthesis, transmembrane transport, phytohormone metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, among a number of transcription factors and protein kinases (Samarina et al., 2023; Yue et al., 2023) (Figure 2). Figure 2 UPGMA clustering of tea transcriptome samples (A); Heat map of stress response correlation in tea plants based on transcriptomic profiles (B) (Adopted from Samarina et al., 2023)
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