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A parameter of black tea that correlates with quality is highly desired. Twenty good and 20 poor quality tea clones were selected from the breeding programme at the Tea Research Foundation (Central Africa) (TRF(CA)). The thea¯avin (TF) composition of the black tea manufactured from each clone was analysed by capillary electrophoresis and correlated with total scores and valuation from two tea tasters with regression analysis. The signi®cance of the differences between the 20 good and 20 poor quality tea clones was determined with the Student t-test and the distribution-free Kruskal±Wallis test. The sum of the TFs of the black tea correlated well (r = 0.785, P = 0.0002) with the value of the tea. Of the individual TFs determined in the black tea, the highest correlation was obtained with TF-3'-monogallate (TF-B) (r = 0.788, P = 0.0016), TF-3-monogallate (TF-A) (r = 0.741, P = 0.0004) and free TF (TF-f) (r = 0.705, P = 0.0002). TF-B (m = 24.90) followed by TF-A (m = 12.48) showed the steepest slopes against value, making them good indicators for value. The TF-digallate (TF-dg) content did not show signi®cant correlation with value (r = 0.316, P = 0.358). The individual TF content thus can be used for optimising the black tea manufacturing process in Central and Southern Africa.

The tea industry in Malawi is the oldest in Africa but in the past had always produced poor quality tea. A plant improvement programme was therefore started in 1956 at the Tea Research Stations in Mulanje. The improvement in made tea quality was assisted by an investigation into the biochemistry of tea fermentation. Early success was obtained with polyclonal seed varieties and the development of clones from field bushes. These were used in cross breeding to produce new progeny clones which are showing a steady improvement in quality and yield. The need for improved yield was recognised as the programme progressed and appropriate selection procedures adopted. Techniques for improved vegetative propagation for field planting, grafting of seed bearer trees and composite plants were developed. Liaison with the tea industry has been good and all new plantings in southern Africa since about 1975 have been with improved material. The programme is continuing and future prospects are good. Mejora de la planla del te en Malaui RESUMENLa industria del te en Malaui es la mas antigua de Africa, pero en el pasado ha producido siempre tc de baja calidad. Por tanto se inicio un programa de mejora de la planta en 1956 en las Estaciones de Investigacion del Te en Mulanje. Una investigacion dc la bioquimica de la fermentacion del te contribuyo a las mejoras llevadas a cabo en la calidad del te. Se obtuvo exito al principio con las variedades de semilla policlonales y con el desarrollo de clones de las matas del campo. Estos se utilizaron para cruces con el fin de producir nuevos clones progenie que muestran en la actualidad una mejora continuada en calidad y rendimiento. A medida que avanzo el programa se admitio la necesidad de un rendimiento mejorado y se adoptaron los procedimientos de seleccion adecuados. Se desarrollaron las tecnicas para la propagation vegetativa mejorada para la plantation en campos, los injertos de los arboles portadores de la semilla y las plantas compuestas. Las relaciones con la industria del te han sido buenas y desde 1975 todas las nuevas plantaciones en Africa del sur se han realizado con material mejorado. El programa continua y las perspectivas de futuro son buenas.

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