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Seed development in Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Amita Bhattacharya ,
P.K. Nagar  and
P.S. Ahuja
Amita Bhattacharya*
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
P.K. Nagar
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
P.S. Ahuja
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
*
*Correspondence Fax: 910189430433 Email: [email protected] IHBT Publication Number 9931
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Abstract

Seed development of tea was studied to identify the maturity index and the optimal time of seed collection. After harvest, the moisture content (28–30%fresh weight basis) of mature seeds, which germinated 100%, declined progressively (19% moisture content) after shedding, with a decrease in seed germination and viability. However, this viability loss could be prevented to some extent by storing seeds within intact fruits. The maximum rate of seed dry matter accumulation coincided with the accumulation of starch in the embryos and seeds at stage 8, the embryo maturation phase. Although the embryo abscisic acid (ABA) content was highest at stage 8, free ABA declined in the tea embryos throughout the remainder of the seed maturation cycle.

Keywords

abscisic acidCamellia sinensisseed developmentstarchsugarstea
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 39 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

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