International Journal of Research Studies in Science, Engineering and Technology

Volume 6, Issue 11, 2019, PP 10-20

ISSN : 2349-476X

Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in

Genetic Improvement and Production of Major Producing
Countries
Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen*
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research; Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Jimma, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research;
Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Jimma, Ethiopia, Email: mohammedsani641@[Link]

ABSTRACT
Despite applications of breeding in tea are difficult, entire varietal development in tea and other Camellia
species has been done through conventional breeding which started way back in 1939. Since then, several
developments of genetics and breeding have taken place, with objectives of developing high different types
of tea variety, increase yield, improvement cup tea quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. This
is through tea genetic improvement mechanisms like conventional selection, hybridization, marker-assisted
selection, mutation breeding, polyploidy, genetic engineering, and micro propagation. In this paper, (1) the
achievements of tea genetic improvement and breeding, (2) the current situation of collection, conservation,
appraisal and evaluation of tea germplasms, (3) Genetic introgression to enhance germplasm innovation
(4) the establishment and development of tea breeding system and (5) the main research emphases of tea
genetics and breeding soon were reviewed.
Keywords: Breeding, genetics, improvement, production, tea plant

INTRODUCTION diploid tea plants through anther-culture

followed by chromosome doubling is desirable
Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] plants
due to the out-breeding nature of plants under
are originated from southern China, Yunnan
the genus Camellia. Somatic hybridization via
province (Hashimoto and Takasi, 1978; Yu,
protoplast fusion holds tremendous potential in
1986). Tea has been known for more than 2000
tea crop improvement (Mukhopadhyay et al.,
years in China and is naturally distributed
2015). Beris et al. (2016) verified whether the
throughout tropical Asia (Banerjee, 1992). The
qualitative morphological designations of the tea
present-day commercial tea population comprises
clones are genetically true by the ISSR markers
three species, viz. China type [Camellia sinensis
thus, genetic diversity and relationships of 18
(L.) O. Kuntze], Assam type [Camellia
Turkish tea cultivars were determined using 15
assamica(M.) Wight] and the Cambod type
ISSR markers with sizes ranging from 250 to
[Camellia ssp. Lasiocalyx planch. ex. watt Weight]
3000 base pairs.
and their derivatives (Wood and Barua, 1958). The
out breeding characters of tea species have led to a A large number of controlled hybridization was
wide natural hybridization resulting in considerable attempted and some of the progenies were also
heterogeneity in the existing populations. Therefore, recommended for planting (Satyanarayana and
it is difficult to assign a definite varietal status to a Sharma, 1993). Due to the development of high
crop grown in a particular region. Tea production yielding clones and seed stocks, the productivity
in India started in Assam in 1823 by Robert of tea in India rose from 1203 kg/ha in 2000 to
Bruce. Indian tea has diverse genetic resources 1693 kg/ha in 2008 (Statistical data from Tea
since all existing plantation stocks are the Board). With an increase in productivity, the
progeny of the plants or seed stocks brought emphasis is also put on quality up-gradation of
from different parts of Assam, China, and other tea as per consumer demand.
sources. The genetic resource of tea is However, the introduction of selected clonal
undoubtedly one of the most important sources materials and clonal seeds tends to result in the
of tea germplasm resources in India (Smith and extinction of a wide range of genetic materials
Barua, 2011). Production of homozygous due to continuous uprooting programs of old tea

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Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in Genetic Improvement and Production of
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sections. The existing diversity will have to be been registered in the country so far, these
preserved and characterized for future crop cultivars have made a considerable contribution to
improvement programs that constitute the the whole tea industry in China. The impact of the
fundamental support structure for the tea various breeding methods on the production of tea
industry. Leaf morphology has an important role was not summarized before; this initiated the
in identifying taxa. The use of morphological reviewer just to collect this dispersed information
characters is cost-effective when compared to that around the title. In this paper, (1) the current
of biochemical and molecular markers for the situation of collection, conservation, appraisal and
preliminary characterization of many individuals to evaluation of tea germplasms, (2), Genetic
identify morphologically similar groups (Martinez introgression to enhance germplasm innovation (3)
et al., 2003). In tea, morphological characters the establishment and development of tea breeding
especially leaf features have been used to study system were reviewed, and (4) the achievements
genetic diversity (Wickramaratna, 1981; Toyao and of tea genetic improvement and breeding.
Takeda, 1999), variation (Gunasekara et al., 2001;
Piyasundara et al., 2006; Su et al., 2007), phylogeny
LITERATURE REVIEW
and classification (Chen et al., 2005; Vo, 2006; The Current Situation of Collection,
Piyasundara et al., 2008; Peng et al., 2009). Conservation, Appraisal and Evaluation of
Statistical methods have been reported (Kirchoff et Tea Germplasms
al., 2004; Plotze et al., 2005; Kirchoff et al., 2007)
Different tea Producing countries' production levels
and there are two main types of techniques to
correlate with their tea genetic resource collection,
represent taxonomic structure: cluster analysis and
conservation, appraisal, and evaluation stage (Table
principal component analysis (PCA). It should be
2). Tea germplasm is presently one of the most
useful for both the breeding program and the
valuable fundamental materials for tea breeding and
germplasm conservation of tea plants to understand
biotechnology, with valuable potential for the
the diversity and differentiation of morphology
whole tea industry in the future. To fully make use
among those taxa (Smith and Barua, 2011).
of the plentiful tea germplasms, to breed more new
The tea plants in China are of the broadest varieties and serve the tea industry in China, great
genetic variations in the world because of being attention and effort have been paid to the collection,
the provenance of tea plants, long-term conservation, appraisal and evaluation of tea
allogamy, and selection (Chen et al., 2005a). germplasms for half a century, particularly in the
More than two hundred improved cultivars have last two dozen years (Liang et al., 2007).
Table2. The tea acreage, yield and export of top ten countries in 2005 the country order is sorted by yield.
Country Acreage(ha) Yield (t) Of total production Exports in 2004 Of the world Total
(%) (t) export (%)
China 952,500 940,500 27.510 282,643 17.495
India 500,000 830,700 24.298 174,728 10.815
Sri Lanka 210,620 308,090 9.011 298,909 18.501
Kenya 140,000 295,000 8.629 284,309 17.598
Turkey 100,000 202,000 5.909 5,929 0.367
Indonesia 116,200 171,410 5.014 98,572 6.101
Viet Nam 104,000 110,000 3.218 99,400 6.152
Japan 49,000 100,000 2.925 923 0.057
Argentina 40,000 64,000 1.872 67,819 4.198
Bangladesh 54,000 55,627 1.627 10,635 0.658
Subtotal 2,266,320 3,077,327 90.013 1,323,867 81.942
Total in the world 2,561,001 3,418, 777 100 1,615,610 100
Data source: Liang et al., 2007
Collection and Conservation Hainan Island, Dabashan Area and Southwest
The examination of tea germplasms was started in Sichuan, Northwest Guangxi and Southwest
China during the 1930s. Nonetheless, enormous Guizhou, Southeast Chongqing and Upper east
scale and well-arranged examination and Guizhou and, other tea developing areas (Chen et
assortment started during the 1980s. These al., 2006a).
generally fuse the assessment and arrangement of In 1990, the China National Germplasm Tea Stores
Yunnan, Shennongjia and Three Crevasses Locale, (CNGTR), incorporating Hangzhou Tea Storehouse

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Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in Genetic Improvement and Production of
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in the Tea Exploration Organization Chinese germplasms protected in the CNGTR were
Foundation of Horticultural Sciences (TRICAAS) purposely surveyed and altogether assessed
and Menghai Tea Archive Branch in the TRI utilizing multidisciplinary approaches (Yu et al.,
Yunnan Institute of Agrarian Sciences (TRIYAAS) 1992; Yang et al., 2003b; Chen and Zhou, 2005).
were built up as national level lasting ex-situ The book ''Descriptors and Data Standard for Tea
preservation vaults (Chen et al., 2004). Around (Camellia spp.)'' was distributed (Chen et al.,
2,665 germplasm promotions, including wild tea 2005b) and farming strategy standard of the
plants, landraces, improved clones, strains, Ministry of Agriculture ''Technical Code for Crop
hereditary materials, and others, from the tea Germplasm Evaluation Tea Plant (Camellia
developing areas of China and a few different sinensis)'' will be discharged to the open very soon
nations around the globe, had been gathered and (Chen et al., 2006b). These distributions were
protected in the CNGTR before the finish of 2003 further direct and institutionalize the examination
(Chen et al., 2004). In the meantime, vaults of and assessment substance, strategies and the
various scales were set up in the TRIs of other tea information quality control the executives. In the
creating regions essentially to ration their interim, atomic markers, for example, RAPD,
neighborhood landraces (Liang et al., 2007). AFLP, and ISSR are getting famous in the
assessment of hereditary assorted variety and
Early-Stage Appraisal Technique for Breeding
hereditary relationship of tea germplasms (Chen et
Cup tea quality, yield, and hindrances are al., 1998; Liang et al., 2000; Luo et al., 2002; Chen
fundamental tea reproducing goals. The and Yamaguchi, 2002, 2005; Huang et al., 2004;
appealing attributes for high harvest yield and Duan et al., 2004; Yao et al., 2005; Chen et al.,
maybe quality may not probably happen in more 2005a). The deliberately assessed tea germplasms
than one out of each at least 40,000 shrubberies give first-class materials both to singular choice
(Wright, 1956; Hajra, 2001). It will take 22-25 and parental choice for hybridization just as for
years to successfully breed another clone transformation rearing (Liang et al., 2007).
utilizing ordinary strategies. The effectiveness
Genetic Introgression to Enhance
of customary determination and reproducing is
Germplasm Innovation
low. In this manner, to abbreviate the reproducing
time and improve the rearing proficiency, heaps of Germplasm development by far off hybridization
research extends on beginning time examination has a significant job of widening the hereditary
procedure for rearing have been completed and base. Ackerman (1973) endeavored an enormous
accomplished altogether (Takeda, 2000). In the number of interspecific crosses including 20
mid-1970s, explore chiefly centered around the Camellia species. Tea could be effectively crossed
basic connections between the morphological with 10 distinct species. In Japan, the far off
attributes and yield, cup tea quality and opposition. hybridization of the tea plant and 26 species in the
During the 1980s, biostatistics techniques, for variety Camellia were directed. An interspecific
example, way examination, poly-relapse half breed between tea plant (C. sinensis) and
investigation, and head part examination were bloom camellia (C. japonica) and named
utilized to efficiently break down the connections Chatsubaki was acquired. It demonstrated
between a few morphological, physiological, exceptionally impervious to tea anthracnose, dim
compound attributes and the yield, quality, and scourge and cold harm in winter and had low
obstruction (Liu and Zhou, 1994). Since the late caffeine content (Takeda et al., 1987). It has gotten
1990s, DNA sub-atomic markers have been one of the three promising parental materials for tea
utilized in beginning time evaluation (Chen et rearing in Japan. A clone TV 24 in Assam, India
al., 2006c). The beginning period examination was delivered by going between F1 crossbreeds (C.
of tea reproducing is currently progressing from irrawadiensis X [Link]) and TV1, an Assam-
morphological, physiological and compound China half breed (Bezbaruah, 1987).
levels to progressively exact DNA level (Liang
The Establishment and Development of Tea
et al., 2007).
Breeding System
Appraisal and Evaluation
Table:1 indicates that all the 30 cultivars
Somewhere in the range of 1986 and 2005, the registered in 1985 were landraces, and among
agronomical attributes, cup tea quality, primary them 17 were jats. In the 22 clones registered in
concoction segments, abiotic and biotic 1987, most were selected from individuals of
resilience, cytological and enzymological jats, or open-pollinated progenies. However, in
characteristics of 1,500 promotions of tea the two batches registered in 1994 and 2002,

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Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in Genetic Improvement and Production of
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clones selected from hand-pollinated progenies and/or Yunnan Dayecha as the parent(s). Many
increased significantly, and one clone was bred of them are now becoming widely cultivated
using a mutation method in 2002 (Liang et al., popular clones in the tea gardens of China
2007). Among the 45 new clones in the on-going (Liang et al., 2007). Nevertheless, the
3rd national adaptability test, the clones bred using percentage bred using the individual selection
controlled hybridization and mutation methods method decreased gradually, from 85 percent for
increased further (data not shown). The breeding the first time (1987) to 66.7 percent for the
objectives have been changing from high yield to second (1994) and third (2002) time,
high quality than to diverse objectives such as high respectively (Liang et al., 2007). The selection
quality, high efficiency, high functional of elite mother bushes for quality attributes is
components contents and high tolerance to stress. based on fast fermentation using the chloroform
Meanwhile, the breeding technique is continually test. Other attributes considered when selecting
advancing. A highly efficient tea breeding system, mother bushes include growth vigor, shoot size
in which controlled hybridization and individual and tolerance to major pests and diseases. The
selection are the main breeding approaches chloroform test is very inexpensive (about USD
combined with the molecular marker-assisted 1/ genotype) and is used to classify plants as
selection and micro propagation techniques, has "slow", "medium" or "fast" fermenters. Using
now being established and gradually developed this test, the "slow" fermenters are eliminated
(Liang et al., 2007). from the selection program in year 4. This
occurs in the nursery plants, thus eliminating
Individual Selection Breeding
them from expensive field trials (Table 1).
In both the 67 national (Table 1) and 101
Since 1951 that has helped to prevent the
provincial improved clones, about 76 percent
spread of over the years there have been
were bred using the individual selection method
from jats or open-pollinated progenies. So, the changes in the diseases. Weather pattern
selection of natural exiting variations from high- (characterized by the short rainy season and
quality local cultivars (jats) or open-pollinated prolonged drought conditions), a lifestyle of
progenies of elite cultivars is a dominant method people (leading to decreased desire to work on
for tea breeding. For example, six national farms) and consumers' needs or taste (going for
clones, Longjing 43, LongjingChangye and specific quality). These changes have strongly
Zhongcha 102 were selected from the seedlings impacted on the breeding and selection strategy
of famous local cultivar Longjing Quntiand and establishment of the relevant selection
Anhui 1, Anhui 3 and Anhui 7 were from criteria for elite cultivars (Table 3). The
Qimen Qunti, respectively. In total, 15 clones selection of these attributes requires the
had been selected from seedlings and open- establishment of rapid and reliable selection
pollinated progenies of Funding Dabaicha criteria and methods (Apostolides et al., 2006).
Table1. Brief introduction to the Chinese national registered cultivars
no Cultivars Registered Breeding no Cultivars Registered Breeding
year method year method
1 Fuding Dabaicha 1985 Landrace 50 Yunkang 10 1987 Field clone
2 Fuding Dahaocha 1985 Landrace 51 Yunkang 14 1987 Field clone
3 Fu’an Dabaicha 1985 Landrace 52 Juhuachun 1987 OP
4 Meizhan 1985 Landrace 53 Guihong 3 1994 Field clone
5 Zhenghe Dabaicha 1985 Landrace 54 Guihong 4 1994 Field clone
6 Maoxie 1985 Landrace 55 Yangshuling 783 1994 Field clone
7 Tieguanyin 1985 Landrace 56 Wannong 95 1994 Field clone
8 Huangdan 1985 Landrace 57 Xicha 5 1994 Field clone
9 Fujian Shuixian 1985 Landrace 58 Xicha 11 1994 Field clone
10 Benshan 1985 Landrace 59 Hanlv 1994 Field clone
11 Daye Wulong 1985 Landrace 60 Longjing Changye 1994 Field clone
12 Mengku Dayecha* 1985 Landrace 61 Zhenong 113 1994 OP
13 Fengqing Dayecha* 1985 Landrace 62 Qingfeng 1994 Field clone
14 Menghai Dayecha* 1985 Landrace 63 Xingyang 10 1994 Field clone
15 Lechang Baimaicha* 1985 Landrace 64 Baxiancha 1994 Field clone
16 Hainan Daye* 1985 Landrace 65 Qianmei 601 1994 HP
17 Fenghuang Shuixian* 1985 Landrace 66 Qianmei 701 1994 HP

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18 Damianbai 1985 Landrace 67 Gaoyaqi 1994 Field clone

19 Shangmeizhou Zhong 1985 Landrace 68 Zhuyeqi 12 1994 Field clone
20 Ningzhouzhong* 1985 Landrace 69 Baihaozao 1994 Field clone
21 Huangshang Zhong* 1985 Landrace 70 Jiebohuang 13 1994 Field clone
22 Qimenzhong* 1985 Landrace 71 Shuyong 703 1994 HP
23 Jiukengzhong* 1985 Landrace 72 Shuyong 808 1994 HP
24 Yuntaishanzhong* 1985 Landrace 73 Shuyong 307 1994 HP
25 Meitan Taicha* 1985 Landrace 74 Shuyong 401 1994 HP
26 LingyunBaimaocha* 1985 Landrace 75 Shuyong 3 1994 HP
27 Ziyangzhong* 1985 Landrace 76 Shuyong 906 1994 HP
28 Zaobaijie* 1985 Landrace 77 Yihongzao 1998 Field clone
29 Yichang Dayecha* 1985 Landrace 78 Fuzao 2 2002 Field clone
30 Yixingzhong* 1985 Landrace 79 LingtouDancong 2002 Field clone
31 Qianmei 419 1987 OP 80 Xiuhong 2002 Field clone
32 Qianmei 502 1987 HP 81 Wulinghong 2002 Field clone
33 Fuyun 6 1987 OP 82 Yunda Danlv 2002 Field clone
34 Fuyun 7 1987 OP 83 Gancha 2 2002 OP
35 Fuyun 10 1987 OP 84 Shuyong 808 2002 HP
36 Zhuyeqi 1987 Field clone 85 Shuchazao 2002 Field clone
37 Longjing 43 1987 Field clone 86 Wannong 111 2002 Mutation
38 Anhui 1 1987 Field clone 87 Zaobaijian 5 2002 Field clone
39 Anhui 3 1987 Field clone 88 Nanjiang 2 2002 Field clone
40 Anhui 7 1987 Field clone 89 Zhenong 21 2002 Field clone
41 Yingshuang 1987 OP 90 E’cha 1 2002 HP
42 Cuifeng 1987 OP 91 Zhongcha 102 2002 Field clone
43 Jingfeng 1987 OP 92 Mingke 2 2002 HP
44 Biyun 1987 OP 93 Yuemingxiang 2002 Field clone
45 Zhenong12 1987 OP 94 Mingke 1 2002 HP
46 Shuyong 1 1987 HP 95 Huangqi 2002 OP
47 Yinghong 1 1987 Field clone 96 Guilv 1 2003 Field clone
48 Shuyong 2 1987 HP 97 Mingshan Baihao 2005 Field clone
49 Ningzhou 2 1987 Field clone
Source: China Tea Varieties Compilation Committee, 2001; MOA Bulletin No. 191, 2002; Zakir, 2017.
* Jat cultivars: (propagated by seeds), the others are clones Breeding methods:
Landrace: traditional cultivars, including jat cultivars and clones;
Field clone: individual selected clones from seedlings/jats;
OP: Clones selected from open-pollinated progenies;
HP: Clones selected from hand-pollinated progenies
Table3. Breeding and selection programme for new cultivars at the Tea Research Foundation in Central Africa
(Malawi).
Place Year Activity Number of Number of plants
genotypes per genotype
Seed Garden 0 Controlled crosses of flowers in seed garden 5000 5000
Nursery 1 Germinate viable seeds in pots 3750 3750
Nursery 2,3 Select seedlings on the basis of plant vigor; 2500 2500
Take single cuttings for vegetative propagation
Nursery 4 Select seedlings on the basis of rooting ability and nursery 350 350
performance. Eliminate slow fermenters (chloroform test)
take 30-50 cuttings from selected seedlings
Field 5 Plant cultivars in 2 x 8 = 16 bush observation plots in 150 2400
field. Mini-manufacture for organoleptic assessment
by expert tea taster
Field 6,7,8 Select cultivars on field performance and organoleptic 20 2400
quality
Field 9 Establish cultivars in replicated field trials of 5 x 6 = 20 3000 per station

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Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in Genetic Improvement and Production of
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30 bushes per plot replicated five times, on several

research stations
Field 10 Early release of cultivars to estates 5 as required
Field 11,12,13,14 Evaluation of cultivars on all traits for yield and quality 5 10,000 to 100,000
Industry 15 Possible release of 1-2 new cultivars to industry 0-3 as required
Source: Apostolides et al., 2006
Hybridization Breeding clone using tea seedlings or seeds as radiation
objects and Co60c-ray as a radiation source in
Hybridization is one of the main methods of
1997 and 2002, respectively. All these indicate
obtaining genetic variation, and it is an important
that mutation breeding is becoming one of the
method of breeding new varieties. The percentage
practical breeding approaches for tea plants.
of clones bred using the hybridization method
Meanwhile, the molecular mechanism of cutting
increased significantly, from 9.1 percent for the
mutation was analyzed using ISSR markers in
first time (1987) to 29.1 percent for the second
the author’s lab. The amplified genomic DNA
(1994) and 22.2 percent for the third (2002) time,
band patterns of twenty-four M1 off springs and
respectively. Distant hybridization is a powerful
their four M0 parents showed a significant
method for broadening the genetic base of new
difference, so they are of the potential for
varieties (Liang et al., 2007; Zakir, 2017). Thanks
further selection (Liang et al., 2007).
to sterility or extremely weak fecundity, currently
it could not be a routinely used method in the Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection
breeding of tea plants. Young embryo rescuing
Molecular biology techniques provide
tissue culture strategy is now being developed to
polymorphic DNA based molecular markers for
improve the success ratio of distant hybridization
plant genetics and breeding. Molecular markers
in the TRICAAS (Liang et al., 2007).
have distinct advantages compared to other
Mutation Breeding genetic markers. Firstly, it is the direct reflection
Mutation breeding is artificially using physical, of genetic variation on the DNA level, it is
chemical and biological factors to induce the tea unaffected by the developmental stages and
plant to produce genetic variation and then environmental conditions and can stably be
breed new clones or get new valuable genetic inherited to offsprings. Secondly, some markers
materials for further breeding use according to are co-dominant, suitable for the selection of
the breeding objectives. The combined effects of recessive agronomical traits. Thirdly, the
c-ray and chemical mutagens on biological variation of the genome is plentiful and the
damage to tea plants were systematically potential markers are almost unlimited.
analyzed (Yang and Lin 1992). The damage to Presently, several molecular markers, such as
tea plants treated with physicochemical RFLP, RAPD, CAPS, AFLP, ALPs, SSR, ISSR,
mutagens was more significant than that treated have been developed and widely applied in the
with either c-ray or chemical mutagens. The tea plant. Remarkable advances have been
suitable dose rate and physicochemical achieved for the analysis of genetic diversity
combined mutation technique and criteria of and relationship, discrimination of varieties and
main Chinese tea cultivars and a math model cultivars, studies on molecular phylogenetics,
between radiation dose and effect of dose rate detection of genetic stability and fidelity and,
were proposed (Zakir, 2017). The relationship genome mapping (Chen et al., 2006c). In the
between the moisture content, main indigenous past ten years, some secondary metabolism,
components of tea seeds and the radiation quality and stress-related important functional
damage was elucidated. One excellent new genes of tea plant, such as phenylalanine ammonia-
strain, which is very early sprouting in the lyase, chalcone synthase, dihydroflavonol 4-
spring, high cup tea quality, resistant to disease reductase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, flavonoid
and suitable for fine green tea, has been selected 3¢,5¢-hydroxylase, leucoanthocyanidin reductase,
from the offsprings of Longjing 43 cuttings anthocyanidin synthase, polyphenol oxidase for
under Co60c-ray radiation (Yang et al.,2003a). flavonoid biosynthesis, caffeine synthase and S-
It is now in the 3rd national adaptability test and adenosylmethionine synthase for caffeine
will hopefully become the first clone bred using biosynthesis, beta-primeverosidase and beta-
cutting radiation mutation method. The TRI glucosidase for the formation of tea aroma, have
Hunan and Anhui Agricultural University had been isolated, cloned and expressed (Chen et al.,
bred and registered a provincial and national 2006c). Furthermore, the initiation and primary

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progress of functional genomics of tea plants (Wachira and Kiplangat, 1991), while retaining
provide a novel and robust approach to understand most of the characteristics of the diploid
the mechanisms of growth, development, progenitor. Also, they could be used as a source of
differentiation, metabolism, quality, and stress breeding material for the production of secondary
resistance on the whole genome level. It is possible polyploidy cultivars by crossing with diploids
to genetically manipulate and control the tea plant. (Singh, 1980). Although the value of polyploids in
This will bring tremendous effects to tea genetic overcoming barriers to inter-specific gene
improvement and breeding in the foreseeable future introgression has been recognized in plant species
(Chen et al., 2006c; Liang et al., 2007). Amplified (Allard, 1960), this has not been fully exploited in
Fragment Length DNA Polymorphism (AFLP) perennial crops (Wachira and Ng'etich, 1999).
analysis of 49 tea cultivars from south India However, owing to the highly heterozygous and
produced a total number of 1555 unambiguous self-incompatible nature of the tea plant, the
polymorphic amplified DNA fragments introduction of a specific trait of interest into a
(Balasaravnan et al., 2003). proven cultivar, solely through conventional
Polyploidy and Its Application in Tea Breeding methods, has some limitations. On the other hand,
non-conventional methods, such as polyploidy
Polyploidy plays a major role in increasing the
breeding, may induce more vigor and some degree
amount of genetic material in plants and results
of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in
in a change in the chromosome number.
existing tea cultivars, without causing changes in
Polyploids have proportionally larger cells than
the desired parts of the genome (Simura and Inabe,
their diploid counterparts; hence it is expected to
contribute to larger plant size and higher yields 1952). There is a positive correlation between the
(Allard, 1960). In tea, gigantism in various size of the leaf and the yield in tea. Therefore, the
morphological characters was associated with generation of polyploid tea genotypes with bigger
tetraploids (Chaudhuri and Bezbaruah, 1985; leaves may be useful in developing high-yielding
Amma,1974). Apart from increasing the tea cultivars (Table 4). Further, in asexually-
biomass of crops (Allard, 1960), induced propagated perennial crops such as tea, where the
polyploids could be used as an additional source vegetative organs are of economic value,
of genetic variation to improve the overall polyploidy breeding can be used effectively in
performance of existing diploids, or to enhance their genetic improvement (Gunasekara and
particular characters such as the shoot size trait Ranatunga, 2003).
Table4. Identified polyploid clones, their chromosome number and ancestry
Clone number Ploidy-Chromosome No. Original seed source
*TRFK 311/287 4n=60 TRFK 6/8 x TRFK 31/11 - hand-pollinated from TRIEA Uganda
*TRFK 31/30 4n=60 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
*TRFK 52/1 3n=45 “Between" seed from Kanywankoko Estate, Uganda
*TRFK 77/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated seed from Mimosa estate, Malawi
*Dimbolil 3 3n=45 Seedling from James Finlay (K) Ltd, Dimbolil Estate
*TRFK 77/2 3n=45 Open-pollinated seed from Koiwa Estate
*TRFK 383/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB35 X BB5, Koiwa Estate
*TRFK 331/2 3n=45 Seed from Chemosit Estate barie, Unilever tea
*TRFK 378/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB35 X BB7, Koiwa Estate
*TRFK 412/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB21 X BB5, Koiwa Estate
*TRFK 371/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated seed of AHP S15/10 from Chepgoiben Estate,
James Finlay (K) Ltd
*TRFK 400/1 3n=45 Seed from Chepgoiben Estate barie
*TRFK 389/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB35 X BB152, Koiwa Estate
*TRFK 392/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB7 X BB35, Koiwa, Estate
*TRFK 394/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB2 X BB35, Koiwa, Estate
*TRFK 395/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated BB5 X BB35, Koiwa, Estate
*TRFK 54/49 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 386/1 3n=45 Seed from Sotik Tea Co.
TRFK 381/1 3n=45 Seed from BB5 X BB2
TRFK 84/1 3n=45 Mixed seed from Congo, Toro and Entebbe, Uganda
TRFK 84/2 3n=45 Mixed seed from Congo, Toro and Entebbe,Uganda
TRFK 85/1 3n=45 Seed collected from clones from Kakonde Estate

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TRFK 382/2 3n=45 Seeds from BB5 X BB35

TRFK 382/1 3n=45 Seeds from BB5 X BB35
TRFK 386/2 3n=45 Seed from Sotik Tea Co.
TRFK 76/3 3n=45 Seed from Ramjat, Lugeri Estate, Malawi
TRFK 76/1 3n=45 Seed from Ramjat, Lugeri Estate, Malawi
TRFK 76/2 3n=45 Seed from Ramjat, Lugeri Estate, Malawi
TRFK 75/1 3n=45 Commercial seed from Lugeri Estate, Malawi
TRFK 31/36 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 31/38 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 31/39 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 31/40 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 31/41 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 18/7 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 18/27 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 18/26 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 18/28 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 54/50 3n=45 Seed from Ambangulu Estate, Tanzania
TRFK 550/1 3n=45 Open-pollinated seed from polyclonal mixture, Timbilil Estate, Kericho
Source: Wachira and Kiplangat, 1991; Zakir, 2017) NB: in tea, n = x =15.
The Achievements of Tea Genetic involving farmers and consumers are expected
Improvement and Breeding to taste-track the development and adoption of
Different tea research institutes and dedicated novel varieties within a relatively short period
planters had further developed several varieties (Samson et al., 2012). From SriLanka; the first
with better yield, quality, and attributes such as extensive study reported so far on tea germplasm
tolerance to drought, diseases globally. More characterization using morphological descriptors,
than 1,200 such commercial cultivars of tea both locally and internationally. Furthermore, the
have been developed and released for exceptional morphological descriptors identified in
cultivation worldwide, and many of them have this study would facilitate cultivar identification,
which has become one of the most demanding
special traits (Mondal, 2014). By the end of
2005, China had 97 national registered cultivars, needs among tea growers after the introduction of
new improved cultivars by the Tea Research
among them 17 are jats, 80 are clones, 30 are
landraces and 67 are improved clones (Table 1). Institute of Sri Lanka (Piyasundara et al., 2009).
They are bred by 23 different institutions CONCLUSION
including the national and local tea research Generally, the tea genetic improvement
institutes, agricultural universities, local mechanisms like Conventional selection,
agricultural departments, tea experimental hybridization, marker-assisted selection, mutation
stations, etc. The level of clonal tea in breeding, polyploidy, genetic engineering, etc.;
plantations has expanded from less than 10% in were applied for tea production increments,
the early1980s to 26% in 2005 (Yu, 2005). In quality and tolerance or resistance to biotic and
India, the selected plants from old seed jats and abiotic stresses. The level of tea production is
progenies of biclonal hybrids, 153 locally related to the level of intensive utilization of such
adapted and 31 universal clones were developed breeding mechanisms.
for the tea industry. Marker development for
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Citation: Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen, "Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis) Breeding Mechanisms Role in
Genetic Improvement and Production of Major Producing Countries", International Journal of Research
Studies in Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 6, no.11, pp. 10-20, 2019.
Copyright: © 2019 Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen, This is an open-access article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

International Journal of Research Studies in Science, Engineering and Technology V6 ● I11 ● 2019 20