Morphological and Quality Assessment of Drought-Tolerant Tea Clones in Bangladesh

Abstract

Morphological characters and liquor quality of selected 8 tea (Camellia sinensis) clones were compared in the nurseries of Chandpore tea estate and Nalua tea estate, Habiganj district and Tea Germplasm Center of Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet from 2021 to 2024. Single leaf stem cuttings of 8 selected tea clones from 6 tea estates were collected and raised in two nurseries. Growth performance of cuttings was recorded with environmental parameters. The highest survivability rate was observed in C4 (78%), while the highest mortality rate was recorded in C5 (62%). Under 70% field capacity, C21 showed the best results in leaf number (93), where C7 and C11 showed the best results in leaf length (12cm). C11 showed the best results in leaf breadth (5cm). The highest number of branches was recorded in C7 (16). Survivability studies of 8 selected tea clones with 02 check varieties (BT2, BT19) were conducted at controlled conditions (screen-house) as well as at natural field conditions providing normal and supplementary watering with 03 replications. Treatment 1 was conducted with normal watering; 100% field capacity and Treatment 2 with supplementary watering; 70% field capacity. One of our main objectives was to evaluate drought tolerance of the tea clones where root performance played a vital role. Study of root was conducted from the initiation of root. C5 produced the highest root volume (132ml) where C19 had highest length of root (20.7cm). Data-logger was used to record the microclimatic data. In organoleptic taste, C7 was found as the best green tea producing clones among others.