Diversity analysis of chlorophyll, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and nitrogen balance index of tea based on dualex

Abstract

The chemical compositions of tea (Camellia sinensis) are affected by numerous factors, such as cultivar, climate, leaf position, and cultivation pattern. However, under the same conditions, the chemical compositions are mainly determined by varieties. Therefore, we investigated the genetic diversity of chemical compositions of tea tree resources in China to screen excellent germplasm resources. Three chemical compositions index (including chlorophyll index, flavonoid index, and anthocyanin index) and the nitrogen balance index of tea leaves were measured in 102 tea germplasms planted in Chinese Tea Plants Improved Variety Germplasm Resources Nursery (CTPIVGRN) by Dualex on April 15 2019. Results showed that the chlorophyll, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents and the nitrogen balance index significantly differed between the 102 tea germplasms. The genetic diversity index values were 2.005, 2.246, 1.599, and 1.838, and the average genetic diversity was 1.922. The 102 tea germplasms can be divided into four categories by cluster analysis under the genetic distance threshold of 11. These results suggest that the genetic diversity of tea germplasm resources in China is rich. This study’s results can serve as a basis for the diversified development and utilization of tea plant.