Genome assembly of wild tea tree DASZ reveals pedigree and selection history of tea varieties

Weiyi Zhang, Youjun Zhang, Haiji Qiu, Yafei Guo, Haoliang Wan, Xiaoliang Zhang, Federico Scossa, Saleh Alseekh, Qinghua Zhang, Pu Wang, Li Xu, Maximilian H-W Schmidt, Xinxin Jia, Daili Li, Anting Zhu, Fei Guo, Wei Chen, Dejiang Ni, Björn Usadel, Alisdair R. Fernie and Weiwei Wen ()
Additional contact information
Weiyi Zhang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Youjun Zhang: Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology
Haiji Qiu: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yafei Guo: Huazhong Agricultural University
Haoliang Wan: Huazhong Agricultural University
Xiaoliang Zhang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Federico Scossa: Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
Saleh Alseekh: Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology
Qinghua Zhang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Pu Wang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Li Xu: Huazhong Agricultural University
Maximilian H-W Schmidt: RWTH Aachen University
Xinxin Jia: Huazhong Agricultural University
Daili Li: Huazhong Agricultural University
Anting Zhu: Huazhong Agricultural University
Fei Guo: Huazhong Agricultural University
Wei Chen: Huazhong Agricultural University
Dejiang Ni: Huazhong Agricultural University
Björn Usadel: RWTH Aachen University
Alisdair R. Fernie: Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology
Weiwei Wen: Huazhong Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Wild teas are valuable genetic resources for studying domestication and breeding. Here we report the assembly of a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome for an ancient tea tree. The further RNA sequencing of 217 diverse tea accessions clarifies the pedigree of tea cultivars and reveals key contributors in the breeding of Chinese tea. Candidate genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis are identified by genome-wide association study. Specifically, diverse allelic function of CsANR, CsF3’5’H and CsMYB5 is verified by transient overexpression and enzymatic assays, providing comprehensive insights into the biosynthesis of catechins, the most important bioactive compounds in tea plants. The inconspicuous differentiation between ancient trees and cultivars at both genetic and metabolic levels implies that tea may not have undergone long-term artificial directional selection in terms of flavor-related metabolites. These genomic resources provide evolutionary insight into tea plants and lay the foundation for better understanding the biosynthesis of beneficial natural compounds.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17498-6

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