Characterization of self-incompatibility and expression profiles of CsMCU2 related to pollination in different varieties of tea plants

•Pollen tubes germinated and grew normally both in self- and cross-pollinated styles of tea plant cultivars.•The patterns of variability of endogenous hormones in styles and ovaries varied with type of pollination and tea plant cultivars.•The higher levels of ABA contents were found in styles of self-pollinated ‘Fudingdabaicha’.•The expression levels of CsMCU2 were tissue-specific in tea plant.•The expression levels of CsMCU2 between self- and cross-pollinated pistils at 48 h after pollination were significantly different.