To clarify the effect of covering practice befor tea plucking, the characteristics and the constituents in new shoots of first crop of tea plants were examined with different periods and opening times of direct covering on the bush.The longer period of direct covering brought the decrease of number of new shoots, weight of 100 new shoots, and weight of new shoots. The color of direct-covered-leaves got deeper than without covering at 3-5days after direct covering, and this result became much clearer in 10 days.The contents of total nitrogen and free amino acids in new shoots were higher than without covering at 3-5days after direct covering, and after that, it was not influenced by the period of covering. The content of tannin in new shoots was lower than without covering at 3-5days after direct covering, and it was decreased as started to cover earlier. On the other hand, the content of neutral detergent fiber in new shoots was not influenced by direct covering.

No abstract