Relativity between growth characters of young tea plants with the yield and its early selection

Using middle-leaf type and asexual Oolong tea varieties as experimental materials,the phenotypic and genotypic relativities between growth characters of young tea plants and the yield were observed and analyzed.The results showed that the relation between the height.trunk diameter,branch number of naturally growing tea plants in the 1st—2nd year and the yield were not significant;the phenotypic and genotypic relativities among trunk diameter,branch number,leaf number of naturally growing tea plants in the 3rd year,leaf-branch amounts after pruning practice during the 3rd—4th year’s period,spring sprout number tea plants in the 4th year,the yield in the 5th year with averaged 5-year yield during the 5th—9th year’s period reached significant or very significant.It was suggested that the above seven characters could be served as the objective characters for early identification on tea plants yield and variety selection.The regression analysis on growth characters and yield showed that the relation between trunk diameter in the 3rd year,leaf-branch number after pruning practice in the 4th year,yield in the 5th year with averaged 5-year yield and the 5th—9th year’s period were linear regression;whereas,the relation between branch number,leaf number,spring sprout number with averaged 5-year yield and the 5th—9th year’s period was a logarithmic regression.