Varietal Difference of Rooting Capacity in the Tea Plant

Abstract

The purposes of the experiment reported here were to determine the rooting capacity of Camellia sinensis var. assamica, var. sinensis and Assam hybrid clones which are being used as breeding materials in Makurazaki branch, and to see the interaction between clone and year.
In the paper the rooting capacity was estimated from three factors, ratio of rooting, the number of roots and the root weight.
The distinct difference of rooting capacity was observed among the clones. Most of the clonal varieties registered with M.A.F. showed the high rooting capacity. The capacity of var. assamica was inferior to that of var. sinensis and Assam hybrid. Large variance was observed in each group of var. assamica, var. sinensis and Assam hybrid on the ratio of rooting, the number of roots and the root weight.
High correlation coefficients of each of the above three factors were observed among three years, but the average value of each factor differed among years, furthermore, the significant interactions between clones and years were also obtained with regard to each factor.
It, therefore, seemed to be necessary to repeat the cutting test extending over two or three years in order to evaluate more accurately the rooting capacity of the clones.