Non-target and target quantitative metabolomics with quantitative aroma evaluation reveal the influence mechanism of withering light quality on tea aroma and volatile metabolites evolution

Withering is the first and key process that influences tea quality, with light quality being a key regulatory factor. However, effects of withering light quality (WLQ) on transformation and formation pathways of tea aroma and volatile metabolites (VMs) remain unclear. In the present study, four WLQs were set up to investigate their effects on tea aroma and VMs. The results showed that blue and red light reduced the grassy aroma and improved the floral and fruity aroma of tea. Based on GC–MS/MS, 83 VMs were detected. Through VIP, significant differences, and OAV analysis, 13 key differential VMs were screened to characterize the differential impacts of WLQ on tea aroma. Further analysis of the evolution and metabolic pathways revealed that glycoside metabolism was the key pathway regulating tea aroma through WLQ. Blue light withering significantly enhanced glycosides hydrolysis and amino acids deamination, which was beneficial for the enrichment of floral and fruity VMs, such as geraniol, citral, methyl salicylate, 2-methyl-butanal, and benzeneacetaldehyde, as well as the transformation of grassy VMs, such as octanal, naphthalene, and cis -3-hexenyl isovalerate, resulting in the formation of tea floral and fruity aroma. The results provide theoretical basis and technical support for the targeted processing of high-quality tea.