The investigation of genetic diversity based on SCoT markers, morphological, and chemical characters in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) clones

Abstract

Purpose: Tea is one of the earliest caffeinated non-alcoholic drinks produced from the tip of young shoots. Evaluation of genetic diversity of clones that existed in tea germplasm can be a help to improve the tea breeding program. Research Method: The genetic diversity of 9 tea clones based on morphological, chemical and molecular markers were evaluated at Shahid Eftekhari Fashalam Experimental Station, Tea Research Center, Shaft, Guilan, Iran. Findings: Analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the clones for the studied traits. Descriptive statistics showed that green leaf yield had the highest phenotypic variation with CV of 56.47% and water extract showed the least phenotypic variation (4.40%). Clones 399, 285 and 100 had a significantly higher content of the number of plucking shoots, fresh and dry weight of plucking shoot and green leaf yield than other clones. Regarding the water extract, clones 272 and 100 have a significantly higher value than the other clones. Contents of polyphenols in all of clones were high except clones 276 and 278. The cluster analysis classified tea clones into three groups based on morphological and chemical traits as well as SCoT markers. Research limitations: Not using other molecular markers and biochemical traits. Originality/Value: Great variation of morphological characters was apparent among the selected clones. Based on the Mantel test, the grouping of clones with molecular data was partially corresponding with morphological and chemical traits.