Tea (Camellia sinensis), originating in China over 3,000 years ago, has transitioned from a medicinal herb to a widely consumed beverage. Despite considerable research focusing on tea plants in southwestern China, little attention has been paid to those on Hainan Island. The notable resemblance between Hainan tea and Camellia sinensis var. assamica, alongside the unique geographical and climatic conditions of the island, has presented significant challenges for investigations concerning Hainan tea. New research bridges this gap by collecting 500 tea tree samples from Hainan and employing whole-genome resequencing to examine differences between Hainan tea and cultivated varieties of Camellia sinensis.
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