Secondary Metabolites and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Horticultural Tea Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Tea is one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in the world. Tea yield and quality are affected by many factors, among which secondary metabolism and nutrient utilization efficiency are two key factors. The sensory and health benefits of tea are conferred by the large number and quantity of secondary metabolites, including tea polyphenols, theanine, caffeine, and aromatic molecules. These secondary metabolites can also enhance the resistance of tea plants to abiotic and biotic stresses and promote the absorption and utilization of nutrients. Appropriately applying fertilizers improves the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and the tea yield.

However, to increase the tea yield, tea farmers often use excessive chemical fertilizers, which not only reduce tea quality but also cause several environmental problems. Developing tea plant cultivars with high nutrient use efficiency is one of the most important tactics to avoid the overuse of fertilizer. Reasonable agronomic measures such as the integration of water and fertilizers, interplanting, and the application of organic fertilizers can also improve the nutrient utilization efficiency of tea plants. The goal of this research topic is to gather the latest advances in the synthesis, transport, storage, and function of secondary metabolites and how tea plants efficiently acquire and utilize minerals or organic nutrients. Studies on the interaction between secondary metabolism and nutrient utilization of tea plants will also be accepted.

We welcome the submissions of original research papers, reviews, and methods, including (but not limited to) research on the following sub-themes:

• The mechanism of secondary metabolism of tea plant, including the synthesis, decomposition, and transportation of secondary metabolites, in relation to plant nutrition;
• The mechanism of nutrient absorption, transportation, distribution, and reutilization, as well as the ways and methods to improve nutrient utilization efficiency of tea plants;
• The interaction and influence between secondary metabolism and nutrient use efficiency of tea plant;
• The roles of secondary metabolites and nutrients in development and biotic and abiotic stress resistance of tea plant;
• The regulation of mineral nutrients by the tea quality-conferring secondary metabolism;
• Strategies for improving tea quality and yield by regulating secondary metabolism and nutrient utilization of tea plant.

Prof. Dr. Zhaoliang Zhang
Dr. Meiya Liu
Guest Editors

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• tea plant
• nutrition and fertilization
• nutrient use efficiency
• secondary metabolism
• tea quality
• growth and development