Exploring the developmental mechanisms of tea plant trichomes using genomics and single-cell transcriptome sequencing

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Plant Biology
• Tea Science

Background:

• Fuding Dahaocha is a triploid white tea cultivar with distinct characteristics like dense leaf trichomes.
• Understanding its genetic makeup is crucial for breeding and trait improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the triploid Fuding Dahaocha tea cultivar.
• To investigate the genetic basis of trichome development in this variety.

Main Methods:

• Integrated PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding for genome assembly.
• Whole-genome annotation and gene model prediction.
• Single-nucleus RNA sequencing for trichome development analysis.

Main Results:

• A 45-chromosome assembly with a scaffold N50 of 182 Mbp, containing 149,455 gene models.
• High repetitiveness (65.9% transposable elements) and heterozygosity with three distinct haplotype sets.
• Identification of 35 trichome-specific marker genes and key regulators (CsCUT1, CsMYB4) of trichome development.

Conclusions:

• The genome assembly provides a foundational resource for tea genetics and breeding.
• The study elucidates genetic mechanisms underlying trichome development in woody plants.
• This work facilitates future research into tea quality and stress resistance traits.