Formation of 8-hydroxylinalool in tea plant Camellia sinensis var. Assamica ‘Hainan dayezhong’

•8-Hydroxylinalool was one of major linalool derivates in Camellia sinensis var. assamica ‘Hainan dayezhong’ with seasonal variation of content.•Among different tissues, the highest content of 8-hydroxylinalool was detected in buds.•CsCYP76B1 and CsCYP76T1, located in endoplasmic reticulum, catalyze the formation of 8-hydroxylinalool from linalool.•The increased synthetic gene expression level and accumulated precursor linalool content, both of which were induced by JA, enhanced de novo 8-hydroxylinalool biosynthesis and stimulated its accumulation during withering stage of black tea manufacturing process. Linalool and its derivatives contribute greatly to tea aroma. Here, 8-hydroxylinalool was found to be one of the major linalool-derived aroma compounds in Camellia sinensis var. assamica ‘Hainan dayezhong’, a tea plant grown in Hainan Province, China. Both (Z)-8-hydroxylinalool and (E)-8-hydroxylinalool were detected, and the E type was the main compound. Its content fluctuated in different months and was the highest in the buds compared with other tissues. CsCYP76B1 and CsCYP76T1, located in the endoplasmic reticulum, were identified to catalyze the formation of 8-hydroxylinalool from linalool in the tea plant. During withering of black tea manufacturing, the content of both (Z)-8-hydroxylinalool and (E)-8-hydroxylinalool significantly increased. Further study suggested that jasmonate induced gene expression of CsCYP76B1 and CsCYP76T1, and the accumulated precursor linalool may also contribute to 8-hydroxylinalool accumulation. Thus, this study not only reveals 8-hydroxylinalool biosynthesis in tea plants but also sheds light on aroma formation in black tea.