Water relations of clonal tea (Camellia sinensis L.) with reference to drought resistance: II. Effect of water stress

Abstract

first quarter of the year due to uneven distribution of rainfall. Hence, screening of clones for drought tolerance is important for introducing suitable clones for drought prone regions. A glass house experiment was conducted using young tea plants to study the clonal variation of water relations pertaining to drought tolerance. Soil moisture stress reduced relative water content and water potential, and increased diffusive resistance of tea leaves. The critical leaf water potential increasing diffusive resistance and reducing transpiration of drought tolerant clone (TRI2025) is comparatively higher than that of drought susceptible clone (TRI 2023). The drought tolerant clone permanently wilted at a soil water potential lower than that for the drought susceptible clone. Results showed that the clones having efficient stomatal control for reducing water loss and osmotic adjustments for absorbing water from drier soils can withstand drought.