Polyphenols Content of Indonesian Tea Clones on Optimum Manuring Condition

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) has been known as a functional drink containing bioactive polyphenols with health benefits effect. Polyphenols in tea are not only influenced by climate but also by clone types and cultivation techniques. Recently, technological developments in tea commodities are not only focused on the quantity of production but also the content of polyphenols. Previous studies reported that the application of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) fertilizers played a role in increasing the polyphenol content in tea. Research Institute for Tea and Cinchona (RITC) has released GMB Series clones that have high productivity compared to other clones. The objectives of this study were to determine the content of tea polyphenols of various GMB series clones on optimum manuring conditions. This research was carried out in 2018 in the high elevation areas (1,350 m masl) and medium elevation (800 m masl). At the high elevation area at RITC Gambung Experimental Plantation, showed that on optimum manuring condition had an effect on the increase in polyphenol content in most GMB clones (14.83 - 15.43% dw) compared to control (10.56% dw) and GMB 1, GMB 4, GMB 7 and 9 clines showed significantly different effect on the content of total polyphenols. Tests which conducted on the medium elevation area at Cianjur, West Java, showed that under optimum manuring condition, the range of total above 15% with the highest polyphenols were obtained in GMB 1 clone at the dosage application of NPKMg (300:30:249:50) kg ha−1year−1