Untargeted metabolomics reveals differences between commercial and non-commercial Camellia sinensis cultivars used in black tea production

Tea (Camellia sinensis) has enthralled both consumers and researchers, due to its taste, aroma and its medicinal attributes. Tea consumers concern themselves with the quality of tea in particular, its taste and aroma based on which consumers are willing to pay premium prices for the best quality teas. The quality of tea is undeniably affected by variations in its metabolite composition. In this study, two groups of black tea cultivars were compared using a metabolomics approach. Data were generated via GC–MS and 1H-NMR. The GC–MS differentiated between the two groups, based on carbohydrates. The 1H-NMR differentiated between the two groups, based on caffeine, catechins and amino acids. These metabolites applicability in the discrimination of newly developed cultivars into potentially commercialisable and non-commercialisable groups at an early stage in the tea improvement programme is demonstrated. This may help tea breeders to select promising high quality tea cultivars either for release or further field evaluations.James Finlay (Kenya) Ltd., George Williamson (Kenya) Ltd., Sotik Tea Company (Kenya) Ltd., Mcleod Russell (Uganda) Ltd., the TRI of Kenya, and Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products (SABINA). The C. sinensis cultivars used in this study were provided by the TRI of Kenya. Supplementary funding was provided by the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industries of South Africa (dti), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, and the University of Pretoria South Africa.http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/journal/135622022-10-18hj2022Biochemistr