Response of different tea (Camellia sinensis L.) clones against drought stress

Eight clones of three cultivars i.e Rupi (Aa/NTRI-101, Aa/NTRI-108, Aa/NTRI-561), Chuye (Aa/NTRI -117, Aa/NTRI -122) Qi-men (Bb/NTRI -470, Bd/NTRI -180, Ab/NTRI -219) of Camellia sinensis were studied for drought tolerance at National Tea Research Institute (NTRI) Shinkiari Mansehra (KPK) during 2010-11. Four treatments (Control, Nursery, Room temperature and open Sun light) were applied. Data recorded on morphological characters, soil and leaves moisture contents. Significant variations were observed in all the studied parameters among cultivars. In control conditions all clones showed best results in all parameters. In nursery conditions there was no growth in any clone but maximum number of leaves, branches, buds, flowers, soil moisture contents and relative water contents of leaves were observed in clone Aa/NTRI 117, Aa /NTRI 101, Aa /NTRI 122, Bb/NTRI-470 as compare to the others. On the other hand at room temperature, there was no growth in any clone however maximum number leaves, branches, buds, flowers, soil moisture content and relative water content of leaves were observed in Bb /NTRI 470, Bd/NTRI 180, Aa/NTRI 101, Aa /NTRI 219. Sunlight conditions exerted severe drought stress but clones Aa /NTRI 101, Aa /NTRI 117, Bb /NTRI 470, Bd/NTRI 180 could survive and showed maximum response to conditions applied, reveling that these clone i.e, Aa /NTRI 101 of Rupi, Aa /NTRI 117 of Chuye and Bb /NTRI 470, Bd/NTRI 180 of Qi-men are prove to drought significantly.