Effect of Genotype on Success of Nursery Grafting in Three Tea Clones

In order to experience grafting technique and production of composite tea plants, this research was conducted in a randomized block design with nine treatments in three replications at Shahid Eslami tea research station. In this research three genotype consists of promissing clone 100, selected clone 2021 and a foriegn clone (DN) were used as either stock or scion. Qualitative factors sush as total polyphenols, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzyme rate as well as protein content in the nearest leaves to the grafting union were measured in both grafted treatments and ungrafted clones (controls). Also quantitative traits such as dry matter, plant height, number of leaf, stem diameter and percentage of viability were measured after grafting as well as cuttings without grafting (control). Results showed that the success rate was significantly differences (p≤0.001). Also the result for total polyphenol, polyphenol oxidase enzyme and protein showed significant differences (p≤0.001) between grafted and cuttings plants. The success rate of cuttings in all cases were more than grafting. Among grafted plants, grafting of clone 100 on clone DN (100/DN) showed %56 success. Dry matter percentage, plant height, leaf number and stem diameter between grafted plants and cuttings was not significant. Mean comparison showed that the highest amount of total polyphenol belongs to grafted plant 100/2021 with %13.75 and lowest one (%10.42) was observed in clone 100 (control). The highest amount of protein was observed in grafted plant (DN/2021) and the lowest percentage of protein was observed in cutting plants (DN) having protein conteuts of %13.5 and % 9, respectively.