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Article

Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Marker-Assisted Identification of Ovary Glabrous Phenotype in the Population of Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica)

by
Zhijun Wu
*,
Weifeng Tang
and
Meng Lei
College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040360
Submission received: 16 February 2025 / Revised: 22 March 2025 / Accepted: 26 March 2025 / Published: 27 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Tea Plants)
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Abstract

:
Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica), an arboreal tea species from Chongqing, China, exhibits valuable germplasm characteristics and tea production quality. However, the morphological diversity and genetic basis of key traits, such as tree architecture, leaf anatomy, and ovary trichomes, within this natural population remain to be elucidated. In this study, we conducted a survey on 90 wild individuals from this population, with a special focus on ovary trichomes—an important taxonomic trait. Considerable variations were observed in tree architecture, leaf size and shape, and anatomical structures. Through association analysis, we identified the SNP locus Chr9_89939207 to be associated with the glabrous/hairy ovary trait. A KASP marker was subsequently developed based on this locus, which could accurately distinguish between glabrous and hairy ovary individuals of Nanchuan Dachashu, as well as differentiate this species from C. sinensis or other hairy ovary species. The SNP locus Chr9_89939207 resides in the exon of a predicted protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) gene, CSS0003297, which potentially regulates ovary trichome development in tea plants. These results reveal extensive morphological variation within the Nanchuan Dachashu population, establish a molecular tool for the identification of valuable interspecific hybrids, and provide insights into the breeding and industrial applications of this germplasm.

1. Introduction

Tea plants (Theaceae, Sect. Thea (L.) Dyer) are valuable economic crops that are widely cultivated around the world [1]. Numerous taxonomic systems have been proposed for tea plants, such as those by Chang and Min, which classify them into different species based on morphological, biochemical, and phenological characteristics [2,3]. The rich genetic diversity both within and between tea species provides opportunities for germplasm utilization and genetic improvement [1,4].
Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica) is an arboreal, large-leaf tea plant initially discovered in Nanchuan, Chongqing, China [5,6]. Its taxonomic position varies across different classification systems. In Chang’s system, it is classified under Ser. Quinquelocularis [2]. In Min’s system, it was initially treated as C. gymnogyna var. remotiserrata, and later as C. tachangensis var. remotiserrata [7]. Preliminary studies using ISSR, SSR, and SNP markers have investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of C. nanchuanica [5,8,9]. This species is primarily distributed in Nanchuan District of Chongqing, with small populations also found in Qijiang and Jiangjin [5]. Compared to common C. sinensis species, C. nanchuanica possesses distinct characteristics such as a prominent trunk, large leaves, three to five style branches, and glabrous ovaries. C. nanchuanica features a unique sweet aroma and high content of caffeine, producing high-quality black tea [5,10,11]. Furthermore, this species exhibits tolerance to low-temperature stress, shows enhanced resistance against pests and diseases, and can adapt to high-altitude environments [12]. Given these advantageous traits, C. nanchuanica represents a promising genetic resource for breeding and industrial application.
Recent research has revealed rich phenotypic diversity within the C. nanchuanica population, and the occurrence of natural distant hybridization in this species, resulting in hybrids between C. nanchuanica and C. sinensis [5]. These members often exhibit intermediate morphologies, especially the presence of ovary trichomes in progenies [5]. These hybrids represent untapped breeding potential to combine favorable qualities of the two species, such as the unique sweet aroma and stress adaptability in C. nanchuanica [5,10,11] with the widespread cultivation and processing suitability of C. sinensis. However, reliably identifying pure C. nanchuanica individuals or those exhibiting the hairy ovary phenotype within the population remains challenging. Distinguishing hybrid progeny based solely on morphology is difficult during the non-flowering season. Moreover, relying exclusively on morphological characteristics may lead to misidentifying these hybrids as new species [5,13]. Therefore, the presence of hairy ovary hybrids highlights the importance of integrating molecular markers with morphological observations for accurate taxonomic identification.
The presence or absence of ovary trichomes is a key diagnostic trait for identifying and classifying tea species [1]. Commonly cultivated species within Sect. Thea, such as C. sinensis, possess ovaries with trichomes, while wild or less widely cultivated species like C. grandibracteata, C. gymnogyna, and C. nanchuanica have glabrous ovaries. Developing specific molecular markers for this critical trait will facilitate the identification and breeding efficiency of tea plant germplasm resources [14,15,16]. With advancements in sequencing technology and genomic resources, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers have gained popularity due to their high abundance, uniform distribution, and suitability for automated detection [17,18]. High-throughput SNP genotyping platforms, such as KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR), enable rapid, accurate, and cost-effective screening of target traits [19,20]. KASP technology has been successfully applied in tea plants for cultivar identification and genetic mapping of quality traits [14,21,22]. Developing a functional SNP marker targeting the glabrous ovary trait will greatly facilitate the accurate identification of C. nanchuanica and its hybrids.
This study investigated the morphological diversity within the C. nanchuanica population, with a particular focus on variations in ovary trichome phenotypes. By screening SLAF-seq data, we identified an SNP locus significantly associated with the glabrous ovary trait and developed a corresponding KASP molecular marker. This marker provides a rapid and reliable tool for authenticating pure C. nanchuanica resources and distinguishing them from interspecific hybrids, which often exhibit hairy ovary phenotypes. The ability to accurately identify hybrids at any developmental stage will facilitate tea plant breeding programs seeking to utilize the diverse characteristics of C. nanchuanica. In summary, the morphological diversity and genetic marker discovered within the population will provide theoretical foundations for molecular breeding, germplasm conservation, and molecular mechanism revelation of this valuable tea plant resource.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Plant Materials

Ninety mature trees from a wild population of Nanchuan Dachashu were investigated in Delong Town, Nanchuan District, Chongqing, China. Their geographical coordinates and altitudes were recorded by a handheld Google GPS (Supplementary Table S1). Young shoots with two or three leaves were collected for genetic analysis. Additionally, 20 hairy ovary tea germplasms (C. sinensis and C. ptilophylla) used for comparison were conserved by Southwest University in Chongqing, China.

2.2. Morphological Characterization

Morphological traits of the 90 Nanchuan Dachashu resources were evaluated and recorded, mainly referring to the industry standard NY/T 1312-2007 [23] (Supplementary Table S1). For leaf characteristics, 30 mature leaves were randomly collected from the bottom and middle of each tree, and their length and width length were measured using a vernier caliper. Leaf area was evaluated by ImageJ 1.53 software. To characterize the ovary epidermal features, flowers at the blooming stage were collected and observed under a stereoscope SZ61TR (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

2.3. Paraffin Section Observation

To examine leaf anatomical structures, the middle region of a fully expanded leaf was cut into 5 mm × 5 mm pieces, fixed in FAA solution (a mixture of 70% ethanol, formaldehyde, and glacial acetic acid in a 90:5:5 ratio), dehydrated using an ethanol series and embedded in paraffin. Transverse sections of 8–12 μm thickness were prepared, stained with safranin O/fast green, and photographed under a light microscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). Based on the microscopic images, the thickness of mesophyll tissues was measured using ImageJ 1.53 software. A total of 90 leaf samples were examined, with 3 cross sections per sample analyzed.

2.4. DNA Isolation and KASP Genotyping Assay

Total DNA was extracted from young leaves using the CTAB method, which involves cell lysis, DNA purification, and precipitation steps [24]. DNA quality and quantity were assessed using agarose gel electrophoresis and a spectrophotometer NanoDrop ND-2000 (Thermo Scientific, Wilmington, DE, USA). The SNP locus Chr9_89939207, associated with tea plant ovary trichomes, was identified through a manual screening of data from our previous SLAF-seq study [5]. SNP genotype and genomic position data for all samples were obtained from the SLAF-seq data. Samples were then divided into glabrous ovary and hairy ovary groups based on phenotype. SNP loci showing consistent genotypes between the two groups were filtered out, while those exhibiting genotypic differences were retained. The genomic information of this SNP was further matched by referring to the Tea Plant Information Archive (TPIA) genome database [25]. Two allele-specific forward primers and one common reverse primer were designed and synthesized for the KASP assay (Supplementary Table S2). The KASP assay was performed in a 5 μL reaction volume containing 2.5 μL KASP master mix, 1.25 μL primer mix, and 1.25 μL template DNA. The PCR program was run on a real-time PCR system following a standard protocol. Endpoint fluorescence was detected and the data were analyzed using the system software. The KASP assay was validated in 24 individuals of Nanchuan Dachashu (including 4 hybrids), 1 C. ptilophylla, and, 19 C. sinensis resources.

2.5. Data Analysis

The mean values and standard deviations (SD) were calculated for all quantitative morphological traits using Microsoft Excel 2007. Means of tree height, trunk circumference, leaf shape, leaf area and anatomical structure measurements for individual samples were used for population trait counts. For trait measurements, values were rounded to two decimal places, while ratios were rounded to four decimal places. Histograms were plotted using Origin 8 software to visualize the distribution of each trait.

3. Results

3.1. Natural Distribution and Basic Morphology of the Nanchuan Dachashu Population

In this survey, we collected 90 mature individuals of Nanchuan Dachashu from the Nanchuan region, basically covering the core distribution area of the population. The longitude and latitude range from 107.225620° to 107.260672° and from 28.870260° to 28.921250°, respectively (Supplementary Table S1). The Nanchuan Dachashu population generally exhibits the typical arboreal tree shape characteristic of the genus Camellia, with semi-arboreal and shrub-type individuals mainly found among the hybrids (Figure 1a). Based on morphology and genetic structure, we identified four hybrids, including NCDS17, NCDS53, NCDS90, and NCDS105, which are interspecific hybrids between Nanchuan Dachashu and C. sinensis. The survey data showed that these Nanchuan Dachashu germplasms ranged in height from 1.60 to 12.00 m, with an average height of 5.46 ± 2.13 m. Trunk circumference measured between 0.08 and 1.92 m, with an average circumference of 0.68 ± 0.37 m (Supplementary Table S1). Most mature trees are between 3 and 9 m in height and have a trunk circumference of less than 1.2 m. Notably, several ancient tea trees were found to be over 9 m tall with trunk circumferences exceeding 1.2 m (Figure 1b,c). Furthermore, we observed that mature arboreal tea trees are taller and have larger trunk circumferences compared to semi-arboreal and shrub types.

3.2. Leaf Characteristics of the Nanchuan Dachashu Population

Leaf traits were measured and characterized across the Nanchuan Dachashu population (Supplementary Table S1). Four leaf shapes were observed based on length/width ratios from smallest to largest: suborbicular, elliptical, oblong, and lanceolate (Figure 2a,b). Individuals with elliptical leaves amounted to 71.11% (64), followed by oblong (16), with relatively few having suborbicular (7) or lanceolate (3) leaves (Figure 2b). The minimum leaf length/width ratio (1.80) was found in accession NCDS169, while the maximum (3.42) was in NCDS13 (Figure 2a).
Leaf area varied considerably in the population, with three size classes: medium, large, and extra-large (Figure 2c,d). A majority of individuals, 68.89% (62), had large leaves, with 16 having medium and 12 having extra-large leaves (Figure 2d). NCDS68 had the largest leaves while the hybrid NCDS105 had the smallest, with a leaf area ratio of 2.59 between them (Figure 2c). The four hybrid accessions had leaf length/width ratios between approximately 1.9386 and 2.7721 and leaf areas between approximately 28.73 and 51.48 cm2 (Supplementary Table S1).

3.3. Cross Sectional Characteristics of Leaves in the Nanchuan Dachashu Population

To understand the internal leaf structure of Nanchuan Dachashu, paraffin sections were analyzed (Figure 3). A single palisade cell layer was observed in 85 individuals, while two layers were found in 5 individuals. The palisade/spongy tissue ratio ranged from 0.1973 to 0.9588 (Supplementary Table S1). Among the individuals, 70% (63) had palisade/spongy tissue ratios between approximately 0.2 and 0.4. Five individuals exceeded a ratio of 0.6 (Figure 3c). NCDS177 had the highest palisade/spongy tissue ratio, while NCDS27 had the lowest (Figure 3a,b). Leaf thickness ranged from approximately 170.20 to 326.26 μm (Supplementary Table S1). Of the individuals, 71.11% (64) had leaf thicknesses between approximately 200 and 280 μm, and few exceeded 300 μm (Figure 3d). Individuals with two palisade cell layers usually had thicker leaves. Four of them, including NCDS45, NCDS173, NCDS143, and NCDS177, had leaf thicknesses over 300 μm. The four hybrid accessions had palisade/spongy ratios between approximately 0.2757 and 0.3963 and leaf thicknesses between approximately 222.42 and 311.60 μm (Supplementary Table S1).

3.4. Morphology of Ovaries in the Nanchuan Dachashu Population

Stereomicroscopic analysis was conducted on the ovary morphology of 90 individuals. The number of style branches in the Nanchuan Dachashu population ranged from three to five. Style branch number and ovary locule number were unstable between different individuals, as previously observed [5]. The typical ovary wall characteristic of the Nanchuan Dachashu population is glabrous, while the hybrids usually have hairy ovary walls (Figure 4a,b). Of the 90 individuals surveyed, 86 had glabrous ovaries and 4 hybrids had short pubescent hairs (Figure 4c). Apart from the hairy trait, there were no significant differences in ovaries between Nanchuan Dachashu and its hybrids.

3.5. KASP Genotyping in the Nanchuan Dachashu Population

To genotype individuals with glabrous and hairy ovaries, we utilized the simplified genome library of the Nanchuan Dachashu population constructed in our previous study [5]. After screening and association analysis, SNP locus Chr9_89939207 was found to be associated with the presence or absence of ovary wall trichomes. To validate and develop a functional marker for the glabrous/hairy ovary trait, a KASP primer set and assay were designed for SNP Chr9_89939207 (Supplementary Table S2).
The samples included 4 hybrids, 20 randomly selected of the Nanchuan Dachashu population with glabrous ovary, and 20 hairy ovary germplasms (C. sinensis and C. ptilophylla) (Table 1). Using the primer set, the KASP genotyping plot divided the germplasms into three distinct clusters corresponding to GG, TG and TT genotypes (Figure 5). The 20 glabrous ovary individuals belonged to the GG cluster, the 4 hybrid individuals to the TG cluster, and the hairy ovary C. sinensis and C. ptilophylla germplasms to the TT genotype. This indicates that this SNP locus and corresponding KASP method can effectively identify and distinguish glabrous and hairy ovary individuals in the Nanchuan Dachashu population.
Furthermore, the SNP locus Chr9_89939207 was aligned to the genome, revealing that it is located on an exon of the gene CSS0003297. The CSS0003297 gene encodes a probable protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C).

4. Discussion

4.1. The Nanchuan Dachashu Population Exhibits Rich Morphological Diversity

The Nanchuan Dachashu (C. nanchuanica) population, first scientifically investigated over 40 years ago, is increasingly recognized for its valuable germplasm characteristics and tea production quality [6]. This study represents the documentation of the overall morphological traits of the population, including tree architecture, leaf parameters, and ovary trichome features. The Nanchuan Dachashu population predominantly comprises three tree forms: arboreal, semi-arboreal, and shrub types. Interestingly, the semi-arboreal and shrub forms were mainly present in the hybrid individuals, suggesting that hybridization with other tea species can influence growth habit. Although the probability of success in the distant hybridization of tea species is low, it has been shown to produce offspring with novel phenotypic traits, such as the cold-resistant, anthracnose-resistant, and low-caffeine interspecific hybrid ‘Chatsubaki’ between C. sinensis and C. japonica [26]. The tree shape of tea plants is related to cultivation methods, plucking efficiency, and suitability for mechanized management [27,28,29]. The rich variation in tree shape within the Nanchuan Dachashu population provides diverse options for future cultivation and processing practices. Leaf shape and size variation are commonly used criteria for identifying tea plant cultivars [30]. The Nanchuan Dachashu population exhibits rich diversity in leaf morphology, with most individuals characterized by large (68.89%) and elliptical (71.11%) leaves, while a minority display atypical features. Therefore, when identifying Nanchuan Dachashu germplasm based on biological traits, an appropriate range should be considered and combined with other characteristic features. Additionally, the original leaf shape is related to the suitability for manufacture [31,32,33]. In the future, screening cultivars for refined processing in the Nanchuan Dachashu population will be necessary.

4.2. Leaf Anatomical Characteristics Provide Clues for Screening Stress-Resistant Germplasm

Tea cultivars with thicker palisade tissue usually exhibit stronger low-temperature tolerance and contain more aroma compounds, while those with thinner palisade tissue and well-developed spongy tissue are often less low-temperature tolerant but richer in polyphenols [34,35,36,37]. Analysis of the leaf cross sections in the Nanchuan Dachashu population revealed variations in anatomical structures, particularly in the ratio of palisade to spongy mesophyll and leaf thickness. A single palisade layer predominated in the population (94.4%), with a small portion (5.6%) having two palisade layers. Most individuals in the Nanchuan Dachashu population had palisade/spongy ratios between 0.2 and 0.4, a range lower than that of C. sinensis cultivars, which typically exceed 0.4 [35,36,37]. A palisade/spongy ratio exceeding 0.6 is considered one of the indicators of stress resistance in tea plants [38]. Only individuals with two palisade layers surpassed this threshold, suggesting their potential for enhanced stress tolerance. Based on the sectioning data, the stress resistance of the Nanchuan Dachashu population does not seem to have an advantage over C. sinensis cultivars. Recent hybridization experiments suggest that leaf sectioning structure does not play an absolute role in the stress tolerance of tea plants [39]. We previously found that the low-temperature tolerance of Nanchuan Dachashu is related to light conditions and tenderness [12]. Therefore, given the complexity of the trait characteristics of the Nanchuan Dachashu population, its overall and individual plant stress resistance mechanisms still merits further evaluation.

4.3. Development and Application of KASP Marker for Ovary Glabrous Trait

The ovaries of the Nanchuan Dachashu hybrids are primarily hairy, in stark contrast to the typical glabrous ovaries. This suggests that the trichome characteristics of the ovary epidermis may be influenced by hybridization and can serve as a morphological marker for identifying interspecific hybrids. However, there are limitations to using ovary traits for distinguishing hybrids, as observing ovary characteristics is only feasible during the flowering period, posing challenges for identification at the seedling stage or in non-flowering seasons. In recent years, with the completion of draft and refined genome sequencing of representative tea germplasms [40,41,42], SNP molecular markers based on stable genetic inheritance have become available for detecting traits in tea plants [14,21].
In this study, we screened the SLAF-seq data and obtained an SNP locus associated with the presence or absence of ovary trichomes, located at Chr9_89939207. KASP genotyping clearly separated the germplasm resources into three distinct clusters, corresponding to GG, TG, and TT genotypes. All 20 glabrous ovary individuals from the Nanchuan Dachashu population belonged to the GG homozygous group, while the four hairy ovary hybrids fell into the TG heterozygous cluster. In comparison, the C. sinensis and C. ptilophylla individuals with hairy ovaries uniformly exhibited the TT genotype. Four individuals (NCD17, NCD253, NCD990, NCD105) were identified as heterozygotes in the KASP assay, consistent with our previous findings on population structure [5]. This indicates that the KASP detection method can effectively distinguish between individuals with glabrous and hairy ovaries within the Nanchuan Dachashu population and differentiate them from C. sinensis or other hairy ovary species.

4.4. Candidate Gene Analysis in the Associated Region of Ovary Wall Trichomes

The trichome characteristics of the ovary epidermis are an important basis for the classification of tea plants, and deciphering their formation mechanism will help understand the differences between tea species. Recently, a gene, CsLTP (encoding lipid transfer protein), has been reported to potentially regulate the development of ovary trichomes in tea plants, based on a study using transcriptome Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) [43]. Moreover, CsTTG1 transcription level has been found to be associated with the leaf trichome density in tea plant [44]. In contrast, our study employed a genome association approach to identify genetic markers associated with the trait. By aligning the SLAF-seq data with the reference genome, we found that the SNP locus Chr9_89939207 is located on an exon of the gene CSS0003297, which encodes a probable protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C). In Arabidopsis, members of the PP2C family are known to negatively regulate the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and stress responses [45]. In tomato, SlPP2C2 negatively regulates trichome development by interacting with multiple associated genes and engaging in hormonal crosstalk [46]. Therefore, it is speculated that the gene CSS0003297 may perform similar functions in tea plants and participate in the regulation of ovary trichome development.

5. Conclusions

This study reveals extensive morphological variations within the Nanchuan Dachashu population, including variations in tree architecture, leaf characteristics, and anatomical structures. An SNP marker was developed to accurately distinguish between glabrous and hairy ovary individuals within the Nanchuan Dachashu population and to differentiate this population from C. sinensis or other hairy ovary species. The associated SNP resides in a predicted PP2C gene, CSS0003297, potentially regulating ovary trichome development. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and hybridization of Nanchuan Dachashu, establish a tool for genetic authentication, and lay the foundation for further germplasm utilization and molecular research of this tea plant resource.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/horticulturae11040360/s1, Table S1: Statistics of morphological traits in the Nanchuan Dachashu population; Table S2: List of primers used in the KASP assay.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Z.W.; methodology, Z.W.; software, Z.W.; validation, Z.W., W.T. and M.L.; formal analysis, Z.W.; investigation, Z.W., W.T. and M.L.; resources, Z.W.; data curation, Z.W., W.T. and M.L.; writing—original draft preparation, Z.W.; writing—review and editing, Z.W.; visualization, Z.W.; supervision, Z.W.; project administration, Z.W.; funding acquisition, Z.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the Chongqing Technology Innovation and Application Demonstration Project (cstc2021jscx-gksbX0016) and the Chongqing Nanchuan District Technology Innovation and Application Demonstration Project (Nckjcx20240502).

Data Availability Statement

Data are contained within the article and supplementary materials.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Chongqing Handle Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. and the Chongqing Chanxiang Tea Seed Technology Co., Ltd. for assisting in the investigation of tea germplasm resources.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Horticulturae 11 00360 g001
Figure 1. Basic statistics of the Nanchuan Dachashu population. (a) Three representative tree types based on branching position. (b) Statistics of tree height in the sampled population. (c) Statistics of trunk circumference in the sampled population.
Figure 1. Basic statistics of the Nanchuan Dachashu population. (a) Three representative tree types based on branching position. (b) Statistics of tree height in the sampled population. (c) Statistics of trunk circumference in the sampled population.
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Figure 2. Leaf shape characteristics of Nanchuan Dachashu. (a) Three representative accessions with leaf shapes ranging from suborbicular to lanceolate. (b) Statistics of leaf shapes in the sampled population. (c) Three representative accessions with leaf sizes ranging from medium to extra-large. (d) Statistics of leaf sizes in the sampled population. Scale bars represent 1 cm.
Figure 2. Leaf shape characteristics of Nanchuan Dachashu. (a) Three representative accessions with leaf shapes ranging from suborbicular to lanceolate. (b) Statistics of leaf shapes in the sampled population. (c) Three representative accessions with leaf sizes ranging from medium to extra-large. (d) Statistics of leaf sizes in the sampled population. Scale bars represent 1 cm.
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Figure 3. Anatomical structures of Nanchuan Dachashu leaves. (a) Anatomical image from the accession with the lowest palisade/spongy tissue ratio. (b) Anatomical image from the accession with the highest palisade/spongy tissue ratio. (c) Statistics of palisade/spongy tissue ratio in the sampled population. (d) Statistics of leaf thickness in the sampled population. Scale bars represent 20 μm.
Figure 3. Anatomical structures of Nanchuan Dachashu leaves. (a) Anatomical image from the accession with the lowest palisade/spongy tissue ratio. (b) Anatomical image from the accession with the highest palisade/spongy tissue ratio. (c) Statistics of palisade/spongy tissue ratio in the sampled population. (d) Statistics of leaf thickness in the sampled population. Scale bars represent 20 μm.
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Figure 4. Ovaries of Nanchuan Dachashu. (a) Representative of glabrous ovary. (b) Representative of hairy ovary. (c) Statistics of ovary wall trichomes in the sampled population.
Figure 4. Ovaries of Nanchuan Dachashu. (a) Representative of glabrous ovary. (b) Representative of hairy ovary. (c) Statistics of ovary wall trichomes in the sampled population.
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Figure 5. KASP genotyping plot of tea germplasms. RFU for Allele 1-FAM refers to the relative fluorescence units of the FAM fluorophore. RFU for Allele 2-VIC refers to the relative fluorescence units of the VIC fluorophore. Circles in the plot represent GG genotype. Triangles represent GT genotype. Squares represent TT genotype.
Figure 5. KASP genotyping plot of tea germplasms. RFU for Allele 1-FAM refers to the relative fluorescence units of the FAM fluorophore. RFU for Allele 2-VIC refers to the relative fluorescence units of the VIC fluorophore. Circles in the plot represent GG genotype. Triangles represent GT genotype. Squares represent TT genotype.
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Table 1. KASP genotyping of tea germplasms based on ovary wall trichome traits.
Table 1. KASP genotyping of tea germplasms based on ovary wall trichome traits.
Ovary Wall Trichome TraitSourceGermplasm NameSample IDGenotyping
glabrous ovaryChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS13GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS14GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS15GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS8GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS18GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS19GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS20GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS24GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS26GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS50GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS52GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS88GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS89GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS93GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS94GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS97GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS108GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS109GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS111GG
ChongqingC. nanchuanicaNCDS113GG
Hairy ovaryChongqinghybrid individualNCDS17TG
Chongqinghybrid individualNCDS53TG
Chongqinghybrid individualNCDS90TG
Chongqinghybrid individualNCDS105TG
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongBBCX1TT
ChongqingC. sinensis var. assamicaBBYNDY1TT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. Baiye1BY1TT
FujianC. sinensis cv. Fuding DabaichaFDDBTT
FujianC. sinensis cv. HuangdanHDTT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. HuangjinyaHJYTT
FujianC. sinensis cv. JinguanchaJGCTT
FujianC. sinensis cv. JinmudanJMDTT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. Yuehuang1YH1TT
FujianC. sinensis cv. MingguanMGTT
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongNCCX10TT
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongNCCX12TT
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongNCCX18TT
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongNCCX24TT
ChongqingC. sinensis cv. chuanxiaozhongNCCX8TT
HunanC. ptilophyllaRCMYCTT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. WuniuzaoWNZTT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. YujinxiangYJXTT
ZhejiangC. sinensis cv. Zhonghuang2ZH2TT
YunnanC. sinensis cv. ZijuanZJTT
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Wu, Z.; Tang, W.; Lei, M. Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Marker-Assisted Identification of Ovary Glabrous Phenotype in the Population of Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica). Horticulturae 2025, 11, 360. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040360

AMA Style

Wu Z, Tang W, Lei M. Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Marker-Assisted Identification of Ovary Glabrous Phenotype in the Population of Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica). Horticulturae. 2025; 11(4):360. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040360

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wu, Zhijun, Weifeng Tang, and Meng Lei. 2025. "Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Marker-Assisted Identification of Ovary Glabrous Phenotype in the Population of Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica)" Horticulturae 11, no. 4: 360. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040360

APA Style

Wu, Z., Tang, W., & Lei, M. (2025). Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Marker-Assisted Identification of Ovary Glabrous Phenotype in the Population of Nanchuan Dachashu (Camellia nanchuanica). Horticulturae, 11(4), 360. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040360

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