TEA: AN IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT OF BIODIVERSITY OF ASSAM, NORTHEAST INDIA

PRADIP BARUAH¹*
¹Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Tea Research Association, Jorhat, 785008, Assam, India
* Corresponding Author : pbaruahdr@gmail.com

Received : 30-08-2019     Accepted : 13-09-2019     Published : 15-09-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 17       Pages : 8986 - 8989
Int J Agr Sci 11.17 (2019):8986-8989

Keywords : Assam, Biodiversity, Camellia, Conservation, Germplasm, Wild tea
Academic Editor : Basri Rabiya, Dr Arunima Paliwal, Jawahar S., Singh Rishan, Amit Phonglosa
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author thankful to Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Tea Research Association, Jorhat, 785008, Assam.
Author Contribution : Sole author

India is the largest tea producing country and contributes 33% of the global tea production. Much of this tea comes from the biodiversity hotspot region of Assam, northeast India. Tea plantations form an important constituent of biodiversity of Assam and play a major role in conservation of biodiversity. Tea plantations are an amalgamation of cultivated tea species (clones and seeds), shade trees, weeds, birds, pathogens, insects, animals, micro flora etc. A total of 1,074 tea germplasms have been collected so far which indicate the broad base of genetic diversity of tea in Assam. Owing to such diversity, over 60% of the world tea acreage has received its basic planting material, directly or indirectly, from these tea germplasms. Genetic studies also reveal Assam tea to have a distinct genetic lineage from China tea. Besides the cultivated species, wild or semi-wild growing tea plants are also found in the forest areas of Upper Assam and its bordering states. This also clearly indicates that tea has a distinct source of origin in Assam. Additionally, many other species related to tea are found in Assam such as C. kissi, C. caduca, C. drupifera etc. Presently, the tea genetic diversity is getting reduced at a rapid rate due to uprooting of old plantations and replanting with high yielding clones and gradual deforestation for agricultural and industrial production. It is therefore highly desirable to preserve the diverse genetic resources of tea for further improvement of the crop before they are lost forever. Recent genetic study has further strengthened the necessity of exploration and germplasm collection of wild Assam teas whatever may be surviving. New discoveries may be possible on wild tea germplasms which may provide the scientists valuable source for developing better variety of teas with regard to quality, productivity and resistance to various problems of pests and diseases, stress conditions etc.

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