Screening of tea germplasms based on physio biochemical indices for development of drought tolerant varieties

Authors

  • B. Gogoi
  • P.K. Patel
  • S.K. Singh
  • S. Roy
  • J.K. Saikia
  • N.J. Neog

Abstract

Drought is a major abiotic stress affecting tea productivity. Screening of germplasms for physiological, biochemical and molecular attributes of drought tolerance is an important strategy to develop drought tolerant Tea varieties. Thus, tea germplasms were assessed for their drought tolerance ability during moisture stress winter period from 2015 to 2018. Clones TV1, TV20 and TV25 were taken as standards. Plant physiological parameters like net photosynthesis (Pn) and transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), leaf water potential (LWP), leaf wax content, leaf chlorophyll content and electrolyte leakage (EL%) were determined. Results showed significantly higher rate of photosynthesis in TG37 followed by TG 44, 14/5/35, TG 46 and TG43. High transpiration rate observed in germplasm 14/5/35 and 357/4. Significantly higher WUE recorded in TG 37, TG 44 and TG 46. LWP was highest in TG 44. Higher leaf wax content recorded in TG 37 and TG 46. TG 50 showed high leaf chlorophyll content. Electrolyte leakage was lowest in TG 37 and TG 44. Molecular characterization of germplasms showed that TG 46 has 68% genetic similarity with TV20 and TV25 for drought trait whereas; TG43, TG 44, TG37, TG40 and TG 50 have 69% genetic similarity with TV1. Present study showed that out of thirteen germplasms TG 37, TG 44 and TG 46 exhibited low moisture stress tolerance ability and can be used in future breeding programmes for development of drought tolerant varieties.

Keywords: tea germplasm, drought tolerant, physiological, biochemical, molecular attributes.

Published

20.09.2019

Issue

Section

Research Papers