Tea Research Institute

Green manure species composition differentially regulates soil N₂O emissions and their environmental drivers in subtropical tea plantations

Green manure intercropping is widely advocated for improving soil fertility in perennial cropping systems, yet its effects on soil N₂O emissions remain poorly quantified in tea plantations. This study assessed N₂O fluxes under three intercropping regimes, i.e., no intercropping (...

Shading enhances Se accumulation in tea leaves through promoting CsMYB7-like-mediated conversion of Se (VI) to Se (IV)

Limited selenium (Se) accumulation in agricultural products contributes to widespread dietary Se deficiency, posing a global nutritional threat. Efficient agronomic strategies to enhance Se biofortification in crops are still lacking. Here, we reveal the synergistic effects of sh...

Genome‑wide identification, evolutionary dynamics, and functional characterization of the CsOSCA gene family in tea plants

The OSCA family mediates osmotic stress sensing in plants, but its composition, evolution, and function remain unclear in tea plants. We identified 242 CsOSCA genes from 21 accessions and assigned them to four orthogroups. Pangenome analysis revealed a stable core of 7 genes per...

Underground Signals: The Ecological Power of Root Volatiles

Root volatiles mediate diverse belowground interactions among plants, microbes, and invertebrates, but biological and environmental conditions strongly influence their production, movement, perception, and ecological effects. This review synthesizes current knowledge through an i...

L-Theanine Prevents Autophagy Impairment to Counteract Cadmium-Induced Hepatic Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Ferroptosis, and Glucolipid Dysmetabolism in Mice

Background: Cadmium (Cd) exposure impairs the autophagic response, a core mechanism for cell preservation and organismal homeostasis, eventually resulting in metabolic disturbances, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. L-theanine (LT) exhibits multiple health benefits...

Host-mediated insecticide sequestration in target-site-resistant pests impacts parasitoid fitness and evolution

Insecticide resistance poses a major challenge to global pest management, yet its cascading effects on ecological networks remain poorly understood. Here, we show that target-site-resistant herbivorous insects can accumulate unmetabolized insecticides and inadvertently function a...

White clover-tea intercropping modulates rhizosphere microbiome composition and structure

Leguminous plants are widely incorporated into intercropping systems because of their nitrogen-fixing capabilities. The effects of intercropping white clover on the composition and functional characteristics of rhizosphere soil microbiota in tea plantations were investigated. Met...

Partner of bursicon Regulates Pheromone Gland Development and Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera

Bursicon, a heterodimeric neuropeptide composed of Burs-α and its binding subunit Partner of bursicon (Pburs), is primarily known to regulate insect cuticle tanning and also participates in wing expansion, reproduction and immunity. Pburs is highly expressed during pheromone glan...

Genetic insights into the population structure and adaptive evolution of tea germplasm in Guangxi, China

Guangxi, China, is a critical region for tea plant genetic resources because of its proximity to the center of tea origin and its rich tea germplasm resources. However, the genetic background and evolutionary history of tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) in this region remain poorly...

Spatially contrasting CO 2 dynamics driven by green manure intercropping in subtropical tea plantations

Abstract. Tea plantations are important contributors to greenhouse gas emissions due to intensive fertilization and continuous cultivation. However, the mechanisms by which green manure intercropping regulates soil CO2 dynamics in these systems remain poorly understood. We employ...

Constructing co-assembly derived smart lipid nanoparticles for enhanced antimicrobial potency with plant growth-promoting potential

Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) are widely used in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and safety, yet their translation to plant systems remains limited. Here, we establish a unified strategy integrating antibacterial compound discovery, plant-adapted nanocarrier des...