Tea plant breeding yield identification methods and technical key points

A method for measuring the breeding yield of tea plants (individuals, lines or strains). The direct measurement of yield is calculated based on the harvested amount of buds and leaves per unit land area of the tea plant.

① Annual picking calculation method: according to a certain picking standard, pick in stages and batches by plant or plot, then separately count the total yield of each season within a year. In black tea and green tea regions, picking is generally done at the standard of one bud and two or three leaves; in dark tea regions and oolong tea regions, picking is done at the standard of 4-5 leaves at the resting shoot. In the later stages of breeding, yield performance must be measured to identify production potential.

② Intermittent picking calculation method: pick fresh leaves for one or two seasons, and estimate the annual yield based on the seasonal yield.

③ Peak picking calculation method: pick during the peak growth period of each round of bud shoots. Generally, the peak period yield accounts for more than 60% of the seasonal yield; estimate the annual yield based on the peak period yield.

The indirect identification of tea yield is to measure the tea plant's growth vigor, new shoot sprouting ability, and bud and leaf traits, thereby estimating the yield after picking begins.

① Nursery tea seedling growth vigor measurement method: measure separately according to tea seedling height, leaf number, leaf size, and stem thickness, and classify into three grades: strong, medium, and weak. The standard for strong growth vigor is large height, many leaves, large leaves, and thick stems; the opposite is weak.

② Young tea plant formative pruning branch and leaf weight measurement method: measure the weight of branches and leaves cut off by pruning.

③ Mature tea plant yield trait measurement method: measurement items include: the height and spread of the tea bush, the number of branches on the primary and secondary scaffold branches and on the secondary scaffold branches, the new shoot density at each seasonal growth peak (number/square meter), the weight of one bud and two leaves shoot (g/individual), the annual active growth period of new shoots (days), and the number of flower buds and fruits borne. Based on the above measurement results, a comprehensive evaluation is made. Generally, the signs of high yield are a large number of buds and leaves per plant, heavy buds and leaves, a large canopy, a long active growth period, and few flowers and fruits.