Multi-omics analyses of low-temperature resilience and implications for enhancing cold tolerance in oil camellia

Oil camellia in the Theaceae family refers to a group of economically important woody oil-bearing species native to China. These plants are highly susceptible to low-temperature stress during flowering in late autumn and winter, resulting in extensive abscission of floral buds and fruits and significant yield losses. Understanding the transcriptional regulation of cold resilience in oil camellia is therefore crucial for enhancing their cold tolerance, expanding cultivation into northern China, and ensuring the supply of high-quality edible oil. Here, we critically reviewed the key findings from multi-omics analyses on cold response and cold acclimation in oil camellia, with particular emphasis on the key cold responsive genes (e.g., ICE , CBF , WRKY ). We compared the tissue-specific cold stress responses in leaves and floral buds between wild populations and cultivated varieties, and proposed an integrated cold tolerance model, in which the ICE-CBF-COR pathway and WRKY-regulated sugar metabolism are pivotal to cold tolerance in oil camellia. Finally, we discussed critical challenges and research gaps in cold responses studies in oil camellia. This knowledge will facilitate the in-depth understanding of oil camellia’s low-temperature resilience and thereby support the development of cold-tolerant oil camellia varieties under changing climatic conditions. • Oil Camellia are subtropical woody crops producing high-quality seed edible oil. • Their cold susceptibility limits the cultivation expansion into north China. • We review advances in multi-omics analyses of cold tolerance in oil Camellia. • ICE-CBF-COR pathway and WRKY-regulated sugar metabolism are vital to cold tolerance. • The review offers insights into enhancing cold tolerance in oil Camellia .