Transcriptome of tea under different ratios of ammonium and nitrate in hydroponic cultures

We analyzed the response of the tea variety "Yabukita" to different ratios of ammonium and nitrate (NH4-N:NO3-N=100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100). One year old cuttings were grown hydroponically for 4 months under different conditions. The nitrogen content and amino acid content, including theanine, of new leaves and roots were higher with higher ammonium content. The nitrate content was highest at an ammonium to nitrate ratio of 25:75. To understand these phenomena, new leaves and roots were used for RNA-seq analysis. The main objective was to compare the expression levels of ammonium and nitrate transporters and metabolic enzymes, as well as transcription factors and kinases that regulate the expression of nitrogen metabolism genes.