Growth and photosynthetic and biochemical responses of tea cultivars to blister blight infection

Abstract

Growth characteristics such as leaf area, fresh and dry mass, and shoot length, and physiological parameters such as photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency were reduced by blister blight significantly more in a susceptible tea clone TES-34 than in a tolerant clone SA-6. Also the contents of total sugars, nitrogen, amino acids, proteins, polyphenols, and catechin were reduced more in diseased plant leaves. However, the reduction was more prominent in susceptible than in tolerant clone. Among the different hybrids of tea, Assam hybrid UPASI-3 was highly susceptible to blister blight followed by Cambod UPASI-27 and China UPASI-9. Similarly, tea seedling cv. Caline was highly susceptible to blister blight when compared to tea clone UPASI-3. Susceptibility of tea cultivars to blister blight infection is connected with many physical barriers including leaf area, shoot length, moisture contents, and other physiological and biochemical parameters.