title: Effects of extreme climate events on tea (Camellia sinensis) functional quality validate indigenous farmer knowledge and sensory preferences in tropical China.
abstract: Climate change is impacting agro-ecosystems, crops, and farmer livelihoods in communities worldwide. While it is well understood that more frequent and intense climate events in many areas are resulting in a decline in crop yields, the impact on crop quality is less acknowledged, yet it is critical for food systems that benefit both farmers and consumers through high-quality products. This study examines tea (Camellia sinensis; Theaceae), the world's most widely consumed beverage after water, as a study system to measure effects of seasonal precipitation variability on crop functional quality and associated farmer knowledge, preferences, and livelihoods. Sampling was conducted in a major tea producing area of China during an extreme drought through the onset of the East Asian Monsoon in order to capture effects of extreme climate events that are likely to become more frequent with climate change. Compared to the spring drought, tea growth during the monsoon period was up to 50% higher. Concurrently, concentrations of catechin and methylxanthine secondary metabolites, major compounds that determine tea functional quality, were up to 50% lower during the monsoon while total phenolic concentrations and antioxidant activity increased. The inverse relationship between tea growth and concentrations of individual secondary metabolites suggests a dilution effect of precipitation on tea quality. The decrease in concentrations of tea secondary metabolites was accompanied by reduced farmer preference on the basis of sensory characteristics as well as a decline of up to 50% in household income from tea sales. Farmer surveys indicate a high degree of agreement regarding climate patterns and the effects of precipitation on tea yields and quality. Extrapolating findings from this seasonal study to long-term climate scenario projections suggests that farmers and consumers face variable implications with forecasted precipitation scenarios and calls for research on management practices to facilitate climate adaptation for sustainable crop production.
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Program, Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America; Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Selena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Department of Anthropology, University of Gainesville, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: John Richard
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stepp
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orians
authors.affiliation: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Gainesville, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Corene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matyas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robbat
authors.affiliation: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dayuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Uchenna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Unachukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sarabeth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Department of Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kennelly
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001628:Beverages / Q000191:economics; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D002755:Choice Behavior; D057231:Climate Change; D003132:Commerce; D019359:Knowledge; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D011891:Rain; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014970:Xanthines / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D059808:Polyphenols; D014970:Xanthines; C008514:methylxanthine; D002392:Catechin