Carbon allocation and carbohydrate dynamics in tea plants regulating source sink relationships stress adaptation and quality

Abstract Carbohydrates play a fundamental role in regulating growth, carbon allocation, and stress resilience in tea (Camellia sinensis L.), a perennial crop subjected to continuous biomass removal through plucking. Structural carbohydrates, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins, contribute to cell wall integrity, tissue stability, and processing-related biochemical transformations, while Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), including starch and soluble sugars, function as dynamic reserves that mediate source–sink interactions, seasonal growth patterns, and recovery processes.