Evaluation of Photosynthetic Performance in 25 Tea Cultivars Based on the Analysis of Factor and Cluster

Purpose Photosynthetic performance of 25 tea cultivars in different seasons would be evaluated.

Method Photosynthetic parameters of different tea cultivars at spring, summer and autumn were measured by an intelligent portable photosynthesis system (Li-6400X), and the data would be analyzed.

Result The first two factors accounted for 81.16% of the total variation. Factor 1 was mainly affected by the levels of net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i) and carboxylation efficiency (CE), factor 2 was mainly affected by the levels of water use efficiency (WUE) and transpiration rate (T_r). Tieguanyin and Juhuachun had the higher factor score in spring, Zhenong 113 and Zhongcha 302 had the higher factor score in summer, in addition, Zhenong 113 and Bayu Tezao had the higher factor score in autumn. All the cultivars were classified into 2 types, tea leaves of most of the cultivars in summer were A type, which showed the better P_n and WUE levels, and the leaves of all the tea cultivars in spring and autumn and the leaves of Qianmei 502, Nanjiang Daye, Wuniuzao, Meizan, Mengshan 11 and Chuanmu 217 in summer were the B type, which shows the better P_n, G_s, C_i and T_r levels, but the lower WUE level.

Conclusion The cultivation management measures of tea plant should be formulated according the cultivars and season.