Regulation of the Phenolic Compounds Accumulation in the Tea-Plant Callus Culture with a Separate and Combined Effect of Light and Cadmium Ions

The effect of light and cadmium ions (Cd) on the morphophysiological characteristics and accumulation of low molecular weight phenolic antioxidants in the tea plant Camellia sinensis L. callus culture under their separate and combined action is studied. It was established that the light exposure and the cadmium intake separately led to a change in the morphophysiological characteristics of the culture, a decrease in its growth, and activation of the antioxidant system. It was noted that it was manifested in an increase in the total content of phenolic compounds, flavans, and proanthocyanidins (to a lesser extent) and did not depend on the activity of the phenolic metabolism key enzyme, L-phenylalanine ammoniac lyase. It was found that the cell response was more pronounced under the action of Cd than under the action of light. In some cases, these indicators correlated with the level of lipid peroxidation in callus cultures. It is shown that all changes were more pronounced under the combined action of light and Cd.