Selection of germplasm for breeding to develop drought tolerant tea cultivars

Abstract

Shoot water potential during soil moisture deficit period is one of the reliable physiological parameters for screening drought tolerance of tea germplasm. Drought tolerance of 45 garden series clones were ascertained by determining shoot water potential during soil moisture deficit period from December to March, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Three clones BJ2, KP 6/31 and DT2 were found highly tolerant to drought while nine other clones viz. T78, BJ19, GP19, T. valley 1, HK 2336, CB 27, MB110, DT1, LG17 were tolerant. Thirteen clones were found susceptible while the remaining twenty clones were highly susceptible. Drought tolerant clones can be used in drought prone areas to achieve sustainable yield, and can be chosen for hybridization to develop drought tolerant tea cultivars.