title: Zinc stress affects ionome and metabolome in tea plants.
abstract: The research of physiological responses to Zn stress in plants has been extensively studied. However, the ionomics and metabolomics responses of plants to Zn stress remain largely unknown. In present study, the nutrient elements were identified involved in ion homeostasis and metabolomics changes related to Zn deficiency or excess in tea plants. Nutrient element analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of Zn affected the ion-uptake in roots and the nutrient element transportation to leaves, leading to the different distribution of P, S, Al, Ca, Fe and Cu in the tea leaves or roots. Metabolomics analysis revealed that Zn deficiency or excess differentially influenced the metabolic pathways in the tea leaves. More specifically, Zn deficiency affected the metabolism of carbohydrates, and Zn excess affected flavonoids metabolism. Additionally, the results showed that both Zn deficiency and Zn excess led to reduced nicotinamide levels, which speeded up NAD+degradation and thus reduced energy metabolism. Furthermore, element-metabolite correlation analysis illustrated that Zn contents in the tea leaves were positively correlated with organic acids, nitrogenous metabolites and some carbohydrate metabolites, and negatively correlated with the metabolites involved in secondary metabolism and some other carbohydrate metabolites. Meanwhile, metabolite-metabolite correlation analysis demonstrated that organic acids, sugars, amino acids and flavonoids played dominant roles in the regulation of the tea leaf metabolism under Zn stress. Therefore, the conclusion should be drawn that the tea plants responded to Zn stress by coordinating ion-uptake and regulation of metabolism of carbohydrates, nitrogenous metabolites, and flavonoids.
authors.affiliation: Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Yinfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China. Electronic address: dzttea@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhaotang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Rizhao Tea Research Institute of Shandong, Rizhao 276800, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institue of Pomology, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taian 271000, China.
authors.forename: Lubin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Sisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Dexin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D055442:Metabolome / Q000187:drug effects*; D055432:Metabolomics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze; Ion homeostasis; Metabolome; Zn stress