The effects of exogenous gibberellic acid on the economic traits of tea plants

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an important woody economic crop, and the growth of young tea shoots directly affects the economic value of tea. The application of commercial gibberellic acid (GA₃) can regulate the growth of tea plants, facilitating staggered harvesting for farmers. However, the impact of commercial GA₃ on tea yield and quality remains unknown, and its safety requires further investigation. In this study, we applied commercial GA₃ to tea gardens in both autumn and spring. The results showed that the application of commercial GA₃ increased the growth rate and sprouting density of tea shoots during their growth period, thereby enhancing tea yield by increasing sprouting density. The application of commercial gibberellic acid did not reduce the quality of fresh leaves or tea products in either autumn or spring. Additionally, acute oral toxicity tests indicated that the LD₅₀ for mice consuming tea processed from GA₃-treated plants was greater than 10 g/kg. Transcriptome analysis suggested that GA₃ treatment might promote sprouting and growth by integrating multiple plant hormone pathways, enhancing photosynthesis, hormone signal transduction, and cell wall synthesis. The study comprehensively evaluated the application of commercial GA₃ in tea garden.