Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2020, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (5): 564-572.DOI: 10.11983/CBB20035

• EXPERIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Space Treatment on Biological and Growth Characteristics of Camellia sinensis

Jianfu Liu1,*(), Yucai Chen2, Wenjian Wang3, Hechuan Wang4, Jinfu Cai4, Mingyuan Wang1, Dandan Li1, Bin Zhang5, Kun Huang5   

  1. 1Department of Horticulture/Institute of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
    2Agricultural Service Center of Fengzhou Town, Nan’an City, Quanzhou 362330, China;
    3Anxi Tea Research Institute, Quanzhou 362400, China
    4Agriculture Planting Station of Quanzhou Municipal Bureau, Quanzhou 362000, China
    5Tea Factory of Wuyishan XianMingYan, Nanping 353000, China
  • Received:2020-03-05 Accepted:2020-05-08 Online:2020-09-01 Published:2020-09-03
  • Contact: Jianfu Liu

Abstract: Six SP1 lines of Camellia sinensis carried by Shenzhou No.8 spacecraft were used as materials to study the effects of space flight on leaf morphology, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, content of photosynthetic pigment and soluble sugar and protein, and quality components of Wuyimingcong. The growth and physiological characteristics of Wuyimingcong after space treatment were analyzed for subsequent variety selection. The results showed that leaf length, leaf width, internode length, and leaf area of the six SP1 lines of Wuyimingcong were affected by space flight. Space treatment significantly increased the leaf areas of varieties of Queshe, Rougui, and Qidan, the chlorophyll contents and carotenoid contents of Queshe, Qidan, Rougui, and Jinmaohou varieties, as well as their instantaneous chlorophyll fluorescence (Ft) and quantum efficiency (Qy). After space flight, the contents of soluble sugar increased and the contents of protein decreased. The contents of amino acids and tea polyphenols decreased while the contents of total catechins and caffeine increased. Based on the above indexes, Queshe can be selected as a useful mutant line among the six SP1 lines of Wuyimingcong.

Key words: chlorophyll fluorescence, morphological characteristics, Oolong tea, physiological characteristics, quality components, space treatment