Light synergistically promotes the tea green leafhopper infestation-induced accumulation of linalool oxides and their glucosides in tea (Camellia sinensis)

•Linalool was converted to linalool oxides via 6, 7-epoxylinalool in tea.•Four linalool oxide glucosides were isolated and identified in tea.•Insect attack activated the metabolic flow from linalool to its oxides in tea.•Light and insect attack coordinately increased linalool oxides and glucosides. Linalool, which is one of the most representative aroma substances in tea, is transformed into other aroma-related compounds, including linalool 3,6-oxides and linalool 3,7-oxides. The objective of this study was to elucidate the linalool oxide synthesis pathway and its response to stress in tea. By feeding experiment, chemical synthesis, and compound analysis, it was found that linalool can be transformed to linalool oxides via 6,7-epoxylinalool. The conversion rate from 6,7-epoxylinalool to linalool oxides was relatively high under acidic conditions. Four linalool oxide glucosides obtained from tea were structurally characterized. Additionally, tea green leafhopper infestation was observed to activate the whole metabolic flow from linalool into linalool oxides and their glucosides (p