Abstract
Antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability of tea polyphenols are considered as health benefit traits that mainly contributed by tea catechins. Therefore understanding of genetic and molecular basis of this secondary metabolite production is of prime interest to facilitate the crop improvement program in tea plant efficiently. Some QTLs for these quality traits have already been available. In present study, 10 QTL linked SSRs and 14 newly developed microRNA based SSRs have been characterized in two Darjeeling tea cultivars having contrast characters and their progeny clone TS569 for validating possible association with catechin contents and antioxidant activities. Individual catechins and radical scavenging activity have been estimated by high performance liquid chromatography and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Some of the polymorphic loci are indicated to be co-varied with such biochemical physiognomies. Characterization of microRNA based SSRs polymorphism are being the first time report in tea and discussed as ideal choice for further genotypic studies in tea.
Highlights
Tea is the highest consumed non-alcoholic beverage, made from young shoots of evergreen tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
As a woody perennial crop, tea agronomic traits are being attempted to link with molecular markers in order to select individuals with desired physiognomies at early stages of growth (Koech et al, 2018; Ma et al, 2014; Tan et al, 2016)
Different secondary metabolites like catechin, caffeine concentration and other antioxidant traits are considered as the major contributor of tea quality in terms of its health benefit aspect
Summary
Tea is the highest consumed non-alcoholic beverage, made from young shoots of evergreen tea plant (Camellia sinensis). The evidences point out the role of tea consumption in challenging the risk of neurological and cardiovascular disorder, diabetes, various types of cancer, oral disease even glaucoma too (Hayat et al, 2015; Hazra, Saha, et al, 2017; Khan & Mukhtar, 2013; "Tea Advisory Panel, UK"). This increased awareness demand the attention of scientific community for breeding new cultivars with improved yield and quality according to the choice of end users. One elite Darjeeling tea cultivar TS569 (released through bi-parental cross between Ambari Vegetative-2 and Tukdah-78) was considered for evaluation of the SSR markers and antioxidant trait using spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography
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