Characterization of cultivated and wild teas in northeast India

Abstract

This paper describes the status of cultivated and wild tea, crop structure, tea planters’ terminology in relation to crop description, crop origins and regional races of tea in Northeast India. It emphasizes the need for plant explorations in the hot-spot areas of regional races to collect available genetic diversity and finally, in situ conservation of these races in the form of old jats for their future use in tea improvement.