Characteristics and traits of the tea cultivar Xiuhong

Crop type: tea plant

Cultivar name: Xiuhong

Breeding institution: Tea Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Cultivar source: selected from a single plant among the natural hybrid progeny of Yinghong No. 1

Provincial approval status: approved in 1994 by the Guangdong Provincial Crop Cultivar Approval Committee

Characteristics and traits: belongs to the small tree type, large-leaf class, early-sprouting cultivar; the plant is tall, with a semi-spreading posture and dense branching. Leaves are elliptical, dark green, with a raised leaf surface and soft leaf texture. Sprouting is fairly dense; the one bud and three leaves stage occurs from late March to early April. The buds and leaves are yellow-green, with medium pubescence; the weight of 100 buds at the one bud and three leaves stage is 120.0 grams. The dry sample of one bud and two leaves of spring tea contains 2.3% amino acids, 33.6% tea polyphenols, and 4.4% caffeine. Suitable for making black tea; quality is comparable to that of Qianmei 419. Cold resistance is medium to weak.

Yield performance: in comparative trials from 1985 to 1992, the 8-year average fresh leaf yield per mu was 844.2 kg, 20.4% higher than that of Yunnan large-leaf tea. During the national regional trials from 1997 to 2001, it was 11.89-15.24% higher than Fuding Dabaicha, but 10.32-29.30% lower than the black tea control cultivar Qianmei 419.

Key cultivation techniques: double-row strip planting is suitable, with more than 3000 plants per mu. During dry seasons, pay attention to mite control.