title: Determination of quality constituents in the young leaves of albino tea cultivars.
abstract: Albino tea has received increased attention due to its brisk flavour. To identify changes in the key chemical constituents conveying important qualities to albino tea, the metabolite profiles of four albino cultivars and one green tea cultivar were analysed. Compared to the green tea control, significantly decreased contents of chlorophyll (Chl) (p<0.01), total carotenoids (p<0.05), caffeine (p<0.01), and total catechins (p<0.05) were found in albino tea leaves with a few exceptions, whereas increases were noted in the Chl a/b ratio and the contents of both zeaxanthin and free amino acids, including theanine. Multivariate analysis identified catechins and carotenoids as the most important contributors to the metabolic profile variance between the albino and green tea cultivars. High levels of amino acids, along with low levels of chlorophylls, catechins and caffeine, contribute to the qualities of albino tea, which include reduced astringency and bitterness, along with a strong umami taste.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, Canada. Electronic address: ming-jun.gao@agr.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Ming-Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Ru-Yan
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Blvd West, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China. Electronic address: weishu@ahau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002110:Caffeine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011786:Quality Control; D013649:Taste; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002110:Caffeine; C037184:chlorophyll b; D002392:Catechin; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Albino tea; Camellia sinensis; Metabolic profiling; Multivariate analysis; Tea quality