Xinzhuan Yao¹ , Hu Tang¹ , Yujie Jiao¹ , Yumei He¹ , Litang Lu²

1 College of Tea Sciences, Institute of Plant Health & Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
2 College of Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in the Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
Author    Correspondence author
Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0007
Received: 07 Jan., 2024    Accepted: 13 Feb., 2024    Published: 29 Feb., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Yao X.Z., Tang H., Jiao Y.J., He Y.M., and Lu L.T., 2024, Genomic insights into the evolutionary history of the Camellia genus: comprehensive analysis of phylogenetic relationships, speciation, and adaptive evolution, Journal of Tea Science Research, 14(1): 64-78 (doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0007)

This study aims to synthesize current genomic research to elucidate the evolutionary history of the Camellia genus. By integrating various studies, it provides comprehensive insights into the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped the diversity and adaptation of Camellia species. Genomic research has significantly advanced the understanding of the Camellia genus, revealing the genetic basis of adaptive traits and the mechanisms by which Camellia plants thrive in diverse ecological niches. Comparative chloroplast genomics has identified sequence polymorphisms and divergent hotspots that are valuable for phylogenetic analysis and species identification. The draft genome of tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) highlighted two whole-genome duplications and the evolution of gene families critical for tea quality. Transcriptomic analysis of 116 Camellia plants provided evidence of a recent whole-genome duplication and identified gene families associated with stress resistance and secondary metabolism. The study found that hybridization events have significantly contributed to increased genetic diversity and adaptability. Additionally, the practical applications of genomic research in breeding programs have been demonstrated, leading to the development of new cultivars with improved traits. The integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and chloroplast data provides profound insights into the evolutionary history of the Camellia genus. These findings are crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and optimizing breeding programs to ensure the sustainability and economic viability of Camellia species, promoting the conservation and utilization of Camellia plants.

Camellia genus; Genomic insights; Evolutionary history; Phylogenetic relationships; Conservation genetics