The biochemical diversity among tea plant (Camellia sinensis) cultivars serves as the core material basis associated with tea quality and is of great significance for the innovation of tea germplasm resources and the genetic improvement of tea varieties. Here, we systematically analyzed 16 biochemical components, 7 mineral elements, and water-soluble fluoride (WSF) in 65 tea cultivars using multivariate analysis. These cultivars were grouped into high-component, high-epigallocatechin (EGC), low-component, and balanced-quality clusters. Significant variation was observed in quality-related parameters, including tea polyphenols, catechins, and amino acids and related quality indices. Mineral elements were significantly correlated with quality components, with potassium and boron showing significant correlation with the accumulation of these components. WSF content exhibited a pronounced cultivar-dependent variation, with more than 72% of cultivars containing less than 100 mg·kg−1. The balanced-quality cluster exhibited broad processing adaptability, making it suitable for producing various tea types. The high-EGC cluster is ideal for developing specialty functional teas. The high-component cluster offers core parental material for breeding cultivars high in tea polyphenols and epigallocatechin gallate. This study provides a scientific basis for the screening and utilization of tea germplasm resources and the development of new, high-quality, and safe tea varieties.
Zhang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.