Photosynthetica 2005, 43(2):283-287 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-005-0046-6

Retention and allocation of 14C assimilates by maintenance leaves and harvest index of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

T. S. Barman1, J. K. Saikia1
1 Tocklai Experimental Station, Tea Research Association, Jorhat, India

Partitioning of 14C-labelled photosynthates to various parts of un-pruned tea clones TV1 and TV25 was assessed in vivo by exposing maintenance leaves to 14CO2 at monthly intervals throughout the year. The plants from shoot apex to root tip were divided into twelve components to assess the allocation and retention of 14C-photosynthates by the maintenance foliage. Out of the total photosynthates produced by the maintenance leaves, only 11.08 % was allocated to the commercially useful harvestable two and a bud shoots which is accepted as the harvest index of tea. The photosynthetically active maintenance leaves retained 19.05 % while 24.56 % was distributed to the branches. The bottom and the top parts of the trunk utilized 7.44 and 7.21 %, respectively. The thick roots at the base of the trunk, medium sized roots, pencil size roots, and feeder roots imported 7.28, 7.72, 7.65, and 8.01 % of 14C assimilates, respectively. Except retention by leaves, all the plant parts of vigorous clone TV25 required higher percentage of assimilates than TV1. The mean quantities of net photosynthates utilized by the stem and the roots were 69.37 and 30.63 %, respectively.

Additional key words: clone differences; roots; shoot; translocation

Received: April 23, 2004; Accepted: September 15, 2004; Published: June 1, 2005  Show citation

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Barman, T.S., & Saikia, J.K. (2005). Retention and allocation of 14C assimilates by maintenance leaves and harvest index of tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Photosynthetica, 43(2), 283-287. doi: 10.1007/s11099-005-0046-6
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