Search Results (325)

This study investigates the effect of a brand-new tank-mix adjuvant, Spray Adjuvant—Paraffinic Hydrocarbon Surfactant Complex (SA-PHSC), in enhancing the efficacy of commonly used insecticides and acaricides against two significant pests of tea plantations, the black looper (Hyposidra talaca) and the red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae). Given the pest’s major influence on tea cultivation, which can result in output reductions of up to 55%, this study addresses mounting concerns of pesticide resistance and climate change. Laboratory bioassays showed that the combination of SA-PHSC with the insecticides quinalphos, deltamethrin, and emamectin benzoate, and acaricides etoxazole and fenpyroximate, significantly increased the mortality rates of H. talaca larvae (76.67–100.0%) and O. coffeae adults (100.0%). Additionally, enhancements were noted in the mechanisms of pest cuticular penetration and contact toxicity. These observations were corroborated by field trials, which demonstrated enhanced control of H. talaca (70.47–97.63%) and O. coffeae (75.87–96.59% reduction) populations, as well as increased green tea leaf yields, as a result of SA-PHSC treatment in conjunction with the evaluated pesticides. In addition, the study evaluated the phytotoxicity and organoleptic attributes of the made tea after application, confirming the safety and absence of any off-flavors in the final product (scoring 6.6–7.0). These findings indicate that SA-PHSC could serve as a valuable adjuvant for sustainable pest management in tea cultivation, as it has the ability to optimize the application of currently recommended insecticides and acaricides and restore pest susceptibility. Full article

Japanese green teas, including matcha, sencha, and gyokuro, are derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis and contain bioactive compounds such as catechins, caffeine, and amino acids, notably theanine. However, the amounts and ratios of these components vary significantly depending on the harvest season, cultivar, and cultivation practices. Matcha products on the market range widely in quality, from high-grade ceremonial products to lower-quality powders. In sencha, compositional profiles differ not only according to harvest timing but also according to infusion conditions such as water temperature and steeping time. Gyokuro, a premium shaded tea, is a type of green tea with a particularly high theanine content, just like authentic matcha. The compositional differences are expected to influence the physiological and psychological functions of green tea. For instance, the stress-relieving effects of theanine are modulated not only by its concentration but also by its interactions with coexisting compounds such as caffeine and catechins. Similarly, the bioavailability and physiological activities of catechins may be altered by coexisting theanine and caffeine. This narrative review focuses on compositional variability and interactions among major bioactive compounds in Japanese green tea and discusses how these factors may influence their functional properties. Full article

Plateau environments are characterized by low temperatures, intensive radiation and drastic diurnal temperature fluctuations, all of which greatly suppress rooting and seedling establishment of tea chrysanthemum cuttings. To compare the regulatory effects of different rooting regulators on tea chrysanthemum cuttings under plateau cultivation conditions, this study conducted a 60-day plug-tray cultivation experiment from late July to late September with three biological replicates. All the cuttings, including the IBA-pre-treated control (CK), were uniformly pretreated with 500 mg·L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). On this basis, four treatments, including 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (5-ALA, T1), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, T2), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (T3) and Bacillus velezensis (T4), were applied to determine root morphology, seedling growth, physiological stress metabolism, photosynthetic capacity and rhizosphere substrate characteristics. The different rooting promoters exerted distinct regulatory effects on cutting performance. The GABA treatment significantly improved leaf gas exchange, seedling growth, antioxidant status and rhizosphere nutrient conditions, with net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate improved by 316.34%, 92.31% and 168.00%, respectively, and significantly increased seedling vigor index, plant height and stem diameter by 21.74%, 60.85% and 46.08%, respectively. It also elevated the soluble sugar content and the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation, and optimized rhizosphere available nitrogen and phosphorus levels, as well as related enzyme activities. Nevertheless, the 5-ALA treatment exhibited unique advantages in improving rooting rate and seedling survival. Mantel tests confirmed that the seedling vigor index closely correlated with the root architecture, the total chlorophyll and the transpiration rate. A principal component analysis (PCA) and a cluster heatmap both identified GABA as the treatment with relatively balanced overall performance. A comprehensive D-value evaluation ranked the treatments as GABA > B. amyloliquefaciens > 5-ALA > B. velezensis > control. The treatment with 5-ALA mainly improved the antioxidant capacity, the B. amyloliquefaciens treatment favored root elongation and total nutrients, and the B. velezensis treatment only produced mild improvements. This study indicates that the different exogenous regulators target divergent growth and physiological processes, and the GABA treatment could coordinately boost root development, photosynthetic performance, antioxidant defense and rhizosphere nutrient cycling, thus presenting great application potential for tea chrysanthemum cutting propagation under plateau cultivation conditions. Full article

Existing reviews on AI in tea production are either agriculture-generic or limited to isolated tasks. This review thoroughly compares vision technologies (RGB, hyperspectral, near-infrared, thermal, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)) and establishes a task-oriented algorithm selection framework for the tea industry. For small-sample or near-linear problems, traditional machine learning (ML) (support vector machine (SVM); partial least squares regression (PLSR)) remains effective. For unstructured field tasks, deep learning achieves superior performance: pest detection accuracy exceeds 97%, tea bud detection reaches 96.8% with RGB images, and hyperspectral imaging predicts nitrogen content with R² > 0.90 and tea polyphenols with R² up to 0.925. Algorithm choice further differentiates by task granularity: lightweight convolutional neural networks (CNNs) balance speed and accuracy for edge deployment at 16 fps; You Only Look Once (YOLO) series detectors enable real-time localization on mobile platforms at 93.1% accuracy, 24 ms per target. No single algorithm dominates all tea tasks; selection is a trade-off among accuracy, speed, data availability, and computational constraints. These findings outline a structured analysis of the challenges and pathways for transitioning computer vision (CV) from laboratory research toward field-deployable tools. Full article

Background/Objectives: The oral microbiome plays a central role in maintaining oral health from early life, with childhood representing a critical period for its establishment and long-term stability. While many environmental factors influence this dynamic microbial ecosystem, diet is distinct in being both universal and highly modifiable. This systematic review aims to evaluate and synthesize current evidence regarding the impact and mechanisms of distinct dietary habits, food matrices, and nutritional components on the composition, diversity, and ecological resilience of the pediatric oral microbiome. Methods: A literature review aligned with PRISMA guidelines was conducted via digital searches on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane databases (January 2015–December 2025). Search strategies combined MeSH terms and keywords targeting “Microbiota”, “Mouth”, “Child”, “Diet”, and “Oral health”. Results: From 1068 records identified, 16 relevant articles met the inclusion criteria. Dietary habits may influence taxonomic and functional profiles. Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, sucrose-rich sodas, and sweet treats induces notable dysbiosis and enriches acidogenic/aciduric taxa. Conversely, protective food matrices, including probiotic-fortified dairy products, polyol-based sugar-free chewing gums (xylitol and maltitol), bovine milk, and bioactive-rich agents like green tea, actively suppress cariogenic pathways (specifically Streptococcus mutans) and support commensal, health-associated genera without disrupting overall microbial structures. Conclusions: Diet represents an important modifiable factor shaping the pediatric oral microbiome, capable of either driving dysbiosis or reinforcing symbiosis. Cultivating a microbiome-informed dietary approach early in childhood supports a resilient microbial architecture, offering a non-invasive, public health framework for long-term oral and systemic disease prevention. Full article

Global wastewater generated in unprecedented volumes places a significant strain on aquatic environments, challenging the municipal sector to transition from energy-heavy pollutant removal technologies towards alternative resource recovery strategies with a low carbon footprint. The aim of this work is to review microalgae-based phycoremediation as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative that extracts nutrients from municipal, agricultural, and industrial streams without generating secondary chemical pollution. By utilizing these nutrient-rich effluents, microalgal cultivation generates valuable biomass for downstream valorization into biofuels, biofertilizers, biostimulants, and high-value biopolymers, while eliminating or reducing the costs of synthetic cultivation mediums. However, integrated techno-economic analyses (TEA) and life cycle assessments (LCA) reveal critical socio-technical bottlenecks. Full article

Elucidating the response mechanisms of C-, N-, and P-cycling enzyme activities within soil aggregates to tea plantation age can provide a theoretical foundation for improving soil fertility, safeguarding soil health, and promoting the sustainable use of soil resources in tea plantations. In the present study, soil samples were collected from the 0–20 cm layer of tea plantations with different ages (3, 9, 16, and 24 years). Then, soil samples were separated into >2, 2–1, 1–0.25, and <0.25 mm aggregate size fractions using an optimal moisture sieving method, and the activities of β-glucosidase, invertase, urease, protease, and acid phosphatase were measured in each fraction. Across all tea plantation ages, the aggregate composition was dominated by the >2 mm fraction, whose content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of other size fractions, averaging 54.47%. With increasing plantation age, the content of >2 mm aggregates first increased and then decreased, reaching a relatively high level at 16 years. The activities of β-glucosidase, invertase, urease, and protease in the tea plantation soils were predominantly distributed in the >2 mm aggregates, with average activities of 261.34, 585.31, 52.24, and 84.34 mg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively; in contrast, acid phosphatase activity was less affected by aggregate size. As plantation age increased, the activities of β-glucosidase, invertase, urease, and protease initially increased and then decreased, reaching relatively high levels at 16 years (322.98, 696.66, 67.00, and 100.98 mg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively), whereas acid phosphatase activity progressively increased with age. During the aggregate fractionation process, all enzyme activities were lost to varying degrees, with average recovery rates of 80.45% (β-glucosidase), 83.13% (invertase), 80.78% (urease), 82.16% (protease), and 81.66% (acid phosphatase). As the primary carriers of soil enzymes, the formation and stabilization of >2 mm aggregates are of great importance for promoting soil organic C and nutrient cycling. In tea plantation management, therefore, attention should be directed to the breakdown and disruption of >2 mm aggregates after 16 years of cultivation to maintain soil quality and sustain soil organic C and nutrient use efficiency. Full article

Global warming exacerbates high-temperature stress, disturbing the growth, metabolic homeostasis and quality formation of tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.). Trehalose, a multifunctional osmolyte, can enhance abiotic stress tolerance, but its systematic metabolic mechanism against heat damage in tea remains unclear. Here, we applied integrated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) non-targeted metabolomics to compare control (CK), heat-stressed (T), and trehalose-treated heat-stressed (TT) tea leaves. We identified 163 differential volatile metabolites in GC-MS and 1619 differential non-volatile metabolites in LC-MS. Metabolite classification showed that organic oxygen compounds dominated differential volatile metabolites, while lipids and lipid-like molecules dominated differential non-volatile metabolites. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment showed that alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were core shared pathways. Quantitatively, exogenous trehalose under heat stress significantly increased carbohydrate accumulation, restored lipid homeostasis, and elevated alanine, arginine, and related intermediates, thereby maintaining carbon–nitrogen balance. Trehalose also remodeled the amino acid substrate pool for aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. In flavonoid metabolism, trehalose enhanced high-antioxidant flavonoid aglycones while reducing most glycosides and inhibiting excessive hydroxylation of flavonols. Although total flavonoid content decreased in TT relative to T, this reflected alleviated oxidative damage and reduced dependence on flavonoid-based defense. Combined with total amino acid and flavonoid quantifications, we conclude that exogenous trehalose enhances tea plant thermotolerance by coordinately regulating primary amino acid metabolism and secondary flavonoid metabolism. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using trehalose in heat-resistance cultivation and quality improvement of tea plants. Full article

Lithocarpus litseifolius is a medicinal tea plant recognized for its sweet flavor and anti-diabetic properties, but its limited leaf yield under cultivation restricts its economic sustainability. Melatonin (MLT) is a multifunctional plant growth regulator, but its roles in leaf growth under normal conditions remain not fully understood. Herein, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of foliar-applied MLT on L. litseifolius seedlings, including growth indices, phytohormone profiles, photosynthetic characteristics, and transcriptome alterations. The 100 μM MLT treatment significantly enhanced leaf dry weight by 33.8% and leaf dry matter content by 22.2% compared to the control group. MLT decreased both free and bound abscisic acid (ABA), while increasing gibberellins (GAs), 5-deoxystrigol, auxins (e.g., IAM), and cytokinins (e.g., cZ9G). Additionally, exogenous MLT improved photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and soluble sugars in leaves. RNA-seq revealed that MLT up-regulated DEGs involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling (CYP707A, BAK1, D14, CCD1, and IAA6), photosynthesis (PsbC/B, PetH, PsaB, and ATPase β), and sugar metabolism (WAXY, glgC, and otsB). Our results demonstrate that MLT promotes leaf dry matter accumulation through coordinated phytohormone homeostasis, photosynthetic enhancement, and transcriptional regulation, offering a cost-effective strategy to improve leaf yield in L. litseifolius. Full article

This study examines the effects of climatic variability on bacterial and fungal populations, as well as enzymatic activities innutrient-rich, organic soils that support tea plants (Camellia sinensis L). Conducted from 2016 to 2019 across five district tea estates (TEs) in the Jorhat district of Assam, India, this research investigates the intricate relationships among these parameters. The findings indicate that bacterial and fungal communities exhibit optimal growth within a temperature range of 18 to 30 °C, establishing a critical threshold for their metabolic activity. A significant positive correlation was observed between the abundance of these microbial populations and the corresponding soil enzymatic activities, underscoring the essential role of these robust microbial communities in sustaining vital soil processes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two distinct groups of TEs that displayed consistent patterns of microbial behaviour across varying seasonal conditions. Furthermore, principal component analysis demonstrated that the first three principal components accounted for over 80% of the variability observed in the microbial and enzymatic data sets. This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamic interactions between seasonal fluctuations and soil health, highlighting the crucial contributions of bacterial and fungal populations, along with their enzymatic activities, to the complex ecosystem underlying tea cultivation. Full article

Zhuyecha (ZYC, Camellia sp.) is a newly discovered special wild tea plant resource in Cangwu County, Wuzhou City, Guangxi Province, China. However, there have been few scientific studies on it. This study investigated its morphological and chemical characteristics. The results revealed that ZYC is an arbor-type, upright plant with lanceolate leaves. The flower has five petals, five sepals, a trifid style, and a glabrous ovary. ZYC exhibited a unique chemical profile distinguished from common tea cultivars. Compared with the control cultivated varieties (Hongyan 12, Fuyun 6, and Yinghong 9), ZYC fresh leaves contained significantly higher contents of theobromine, theophylline, and gallic acid, but considerably lower caffeine and lower total catechins. The principal catechins were epi-form/galloylated catechins EGCG and ECG. Notably, theobromine was the most abundant alkaloid in ZYC, followed by caffeine and theophylline. In ZYC fresh leaves, 15 differential non-volatile metabolites were identified, and 22 key aroma compounds were screened, including linalool, (E)-2-hexenal, hexanal, heptan-2-ol, and β-myrcene, among others. The volatile components were primarily alcohols, aldehydes, and esters, contributing to floral, fruity, and green aroma attributes. This work enhances the understanding of the botanical and phytochemical properties of ZYC and provides scientific guidance for further research and efficient utilization of this natural low-caffeine/high-theobromine tea resource. Full article

This study examines the kalif structure, a unique and increasingly invisible component of the rural architecture in the Eastern Black Sea region that is currently under threat of extinction, along with the tradition of kalif-guarding integrated with this structure. Historically constructed to protect agricultural production from wildlife, kalifs are not merely functional shelters but also multi-layered memory objects where collective solidarity and social interaction are reproduced. A qualitative research method was adopted for the study, utilizing literature review, on-site physical documentation, and technical analysis centered on Yücehisar village in the Pazar district of Rize. Within the scope of the research, the material use and construction techniques of kalifs are detailed from an architectural perspective, and these practices are evaluated through the lens of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The findings indicate that the loss of the physical presence of kalifs due to the transition from corn to tea cultivation and rural migration signifies the dissolution of a production-based culture of living. Consequently, the study reveals the critical importance of incorporating the kalif and the act of kalif-guarding into academic literature and cultural memory within the framework of Intangible Cultural Heritage standards to preserve local identity and rural memory. Full article

Matcha, a finely milled powdered green tea originating from Japan, is characterized by a unique cultivation method in which tea plants are shaded prior to harvest. This practice enhances the accumulation of chlorophyll, caffeine, L-theanine, and other bioactive compounds. In addition, specialized post-harvest processing, including careful hand-picking, gentle steaming, drying, and traditional stone grinding, helps preserve the nutritional and biochemical integrity of the tea leaves. This review examines the relationship between cultivation and processing techniques and the resulting bioactive composition of matcha. It also summarizes current scientific evidence regarding the potential health-promoting properties of matcha and its major constituents. The analysis is based on available scientific literature, including both in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the biological activity of matcha and green tea catechins. Particular attention is given to studies evaluating their effects on metabolic parameters such as glucose levels, lipid profile, body weight regulation, and gut microbiota composition. In addition, the potential influence of matcha-derived compounds on neurological function, systemic physiological processes and anticancer potential is discussed. Furthermore, matcha is increasingly recognized as a functional food ingredient and has been incorporated into a variety of products, including bakery goods, dairy products, functional beverages, and nutraceutical formulations. The collected findings suggest that matcha may exert a broad spectrum of beneficial biological effects due to its high concentration of polyphenols, amino acids, and antioxidants. Nevertheless, despite promising experimental and preclinical data, further well-designed clinical studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and long-term health effects associated with regular matcha consumption. Full article

Mineral elements are components of metabolites in tea plants and directly contribute to taste formation in brewed tea infusions. Like quality-related compounds such as tea polyphenols and free amino acids, their accumulation and leachability are strongly influenced by growing conditions. To investigate the relationships between mineral elements and flavor quality, 56 Tieguanyin tea samples collected across different elevation gradients were analyzed. Unlike previous altitude-related studies that mainly focused on conventional metabolites, this study simultaneously examined mineral element contents in both dry tea leaves and brewed infusions, together with sensory evaluation and the quantification of tea polyphenols, free amino acids, caffeine, and catechin metabolites. Compared with low-elevation teas (300–400 m), high-elevation teas (600–800 m and above 800 m) exhibited superior flavor quality, with higher free amino acids and tea polyphenols, and lower phenol-to-amino acid ratios and caffeine contents, whereas catechin metabolites showed only a weak association with elevation. In dry tea leaves, analysis of total mineral elements indicated that higher magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus, together with lower aluminum, copper, manganese, and cobalt, were positively associated with both elevation and tea quality. In brewed tea infusions, Mg was positively correlated with quality, whereas sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were negatively associated. Notably, Na was 47% higher and K was 8% higher in teas from above 800 m than in those from 600–800 m, enabling further separation of the two high-elevation groups. These findings provide a scientific basis for improving Oolong tea quality through optimized cultivation practices and nutrient regulation. Full article

This study conducts a cradle-to-gate Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) of tea production in Sri Lanka, comparing smallholder and estate-owned plantations processed by Orthodox and Crush–Tear–Curl (CTC) methods. Unlike most tea LCA studies that treat cultivation as a single undifferentiated phase, this work explicitly incorporates the perennial nature of tea by using a modular life cycle framework that separates the agronomic stages alongside factory processing up to the packed-tea gate. This approach allows a more precise allocation of long-term environmental burdens over the entire productive lifespan of the tea plant, addressing a methodological gap in the literature. Four production scenarios were evaluated: Smallholder-Orthodox, Smallholder-CTC, Estate-Orthodox, and Estate-CTC, with the functional unit set to 1 tonne of processed tea. Primary data were gathered through structured surveys of 30 plantations (25 smallholders, 5 estates) and 5 tea factories, supplemented by secondary data from Ecoinvent v3.11 and national statistics. The CML-IA Baseline method in SimaPro v9.5 was applied to characterize impacts across eight impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), abiotic element depletion, fossil fuel depletion, acidification, human toxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, and eutrophication. Results indicate that Smallholder-Orthodox systems have the highest GWP (3304 kg CO₂ eq per tonne), whereas Estate-CTC systems show a lower GWP (2894.87 kg CO₂ eq). Acidification potential ranges from 47.21 kg SO₂ eq for Smallholder-Orthodox to 41.25 kg SO₂ eq for Estate-CTC. Overall, the findings suggest that the scale of plantation management has a greater impact on environmental performance than processing technology, highlighting the need to focus sustainable practices on the cultivation stage, exactly where the perennial crop modeling approach used here provides the greatest analytical benefit. Full article