Botanical characterization and matK-based DNA barcoding of Assam tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify a tea sample collected in Ho Chi Minh City using matK-based DNA barcoding and characterize its morphological – anatomical, and components of freeze-dried powder of tea leaves. Species identification was performed using Sanger sequencing, followed by nucleotide BLAST analysis against the NCBI database. Description, size measurement and macromorphological examination were performed, while the anatomical structures of the root, stem, and leaf were examined using hand-sectioning and double staining with iodine green and carmine red. The freeze-dried leaf powder was microscopically analyzed to identify components specified for species identification. Results have shown that the matK sequence showed high similarity with Camellia sinensis var. assamica, confirming the sample as Assam tea. Morphological traits, including alternate single leaves with ovate laminae and finely serrate margins, together with characteristic anatomical features and typical components of Theaceae family, were recorded. This study provided comprehensive pharmacognostic and molecular dataset of Assam tea cultivated in Ho Chi Minh Cityfor species identification, quality control and development of medicinal tea-related studies.