Abstract:
Objective Role of CsLhcb1 associated with the chlorophyll-protein complex which captures light energy to initiate the photochemical reaction in tea plants was investigated, and the genetic expression under drought stress studied to understand the function it plays.
Method Gene cloning, bioinformatic, and real-time fluorescence quantitative methods were applied to reveal the structure and characteristics of CsLhcb1. Gene expressions under a simulated drought with 20% PEG-6000 on tea cultivars Longjing 43, Shuchazao, and Baiye No. 1 were conducted.
Result CsLhcb1 was cloned from the cDNA of Longjing 43 to show a full length of 810 bp encoded 269 amino acids with a molecular weight of 29,065.36 Da. Under the simulated drought condition, its expression peaked in 1h followed by a gradual decline. So did that in Shuzhazao but rose after 24 h, whereas in Baiye No. 1, it did not reach the maximum for 6 h before a decline. In 1 h after the imposed stress, the expression in Shuchazao was 1.49x of that in Longjing 43 and 1.6x of that in Baiye No. 1, while in 24 h, it was 9.56x in Longjing 43 and 5.73x of that in Baiye No. 1.
Conclusion Drought stress significantly affected the expression in varying degrees of CsLhcb1 of different tea cultivars.