Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Sci Food Agric. 2011 Apr;91(6):1111-7. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4291. Epub 2011 Mar 7.
Tea plants are always cultivated in acid soils in hilly regions and their growth can be dependent on to soluble aluminium (Al). The mechanism of Al detoxification and the influence of Al on phenolic compounds (i.e. catechin) in the roots of tea plants has remained obscure. This study aimed to investigate the influence of Al changes on the concentrations of phenolic substances in tea plants through hydroponic experiments.
Tea plants were cultivated in nutrient solution containing 1.5 and 2.5 mmol L(-1) Al, and these treatments enhanced the growth of new buds and roots. Aluminium stimulated the uptake of Ca, Mg, K and Mn, whereas the uptake of Fe, Cu and Zn was retarded. Moreover, total phenol concentrations in tea plant tissues increased with increasing Al concentrations. In general, catechin concentrations in leaves increased with increasing Al concentrations in the hydroponic experiments. High correlation coefficients were obtained between Al and (-)-ECG (r(2) = 0.85, P < 0.01) and between Al and total phenols (r(2) = 0.92, P < 0.01).
The Al concentration in tea plants indeed increases catechin concentrations and plays an important role in the growth of tea plants.
茶树总是生长在丘陵地区的酸性土壤中，其生长可能依赖于可溶的铝（Al）。铝解毒的机制以及铝对茶树根系中酚类化合物（即儿茶素）的影响仍不清楚。本研究旨在通过水培实验研究 Al 变化对茶树中酚类物质浓度的影响。
将茶树种植在含有 1.5 和 2.5 mmol L(-1) Al 的营养液中，这些处理促进了新芽和根系的生长。铝刺激了 Ca、Mg、K 和 Mn 的吸收，而 Fe、Cu 和 Zn 的吸收则受到抑制。此外，茶树组织中的总酚浓度随 Al 浓度的增加而增加。一般来说，叶片中的儿茶素浓度随水培实验中 Al 浓度的增加而增加。在 Al 与 (-)-ECG（r(2) = 0.85，P < 0.01）和 Al 与总酚（r(2) = 0.92，P < 0.01）之间获得了高的相关系数。
茶树中的 Al 浓度确实会增加儿茶素浓度，并在茶树的生长中发挥重要作用。
