The Korean Tea Plant (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>): RFLP Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Relationship to Japanese Tea

Abstract

We used RFLP analysis with phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) cDNA as a probe to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Korean tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis). We analyzed 297 plants collected from the grounds of 6 old temples and from 1 tea farm. The patterns of DNA fragments in plants from the 6 temples were variable and differed from those of Japanese teas. In Japanese teas the PAL locus is composed of 3 multifragment alleles, but at least 10 fragment alleles were apparent in the Korean teas. The Korean teas showed greater genetic diversity than Japanese teas. The RFLP patterns of all 12 samples taken from the tea farm, where Japanese tea seeds had been introduced historically, were the same as those of the Japanese teas. The Korean teas were divided into 2 different genetic groups; one group was found around old temples and was probably derived from China. The other originated from Japanese teas that were introduced 50 to 100 years ago. RFLP analysis using PAL cDNA was very useful for the detection of genetic diversity in Korean teas, because the results of this analysis were similar to those of previous RAPD and morphological studies and were able to reveal the existence of the 2 tea groups. Our results showed that not only several morphological characters, but also the genetic background of Korean teas, differed from those of Japanese teas. Although further evaluation of Korean teas as genetic resources is required, it is possible that Korean teas will prove useful in Japanese tea breeding.

Genetic diversity among tea cultivars from China, Japan and Kenya revealed by ISSR markers and its implication for parental selection in tea breeding programmes

“…In the present study, the low diversity of tea cultivars from Japan was demonstrated as well as in earlier studies (Kaundun et al. 2000, Matsumoto et al. 2004), which could be attributed to the long and intensive selection and breeding from a genetically limited tea stock in Japan.…”

“…The Japanese tea was first introduced from mainland China about 1200 years ago, and the original tea populations were established based on only a few of seeds from a restricted source (Takeda 2000). In the present study, the low diversity of tea cultivars from Japan was demonstrated as well as in earlier studies (Kaundun et al 2000, Matsumoto et al 2004), which could be attributed to the long and intensive selection and breeding from a genetically limited tea stock in Japan.…”

Microsatellite variability within and among local landrace populations of tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, in Kyoto, Japan

“…Previously, genetic variability of tea plants has been studied with RFLP (Matsumoto et al 1994(Matsumoto et al , 2004, AFLP (Paul et al 1997), and RAPD (Kaundun et al 2000;Kaundun and Park 2002;Park et al 2002) markers. AFLP and RAPD are dominant markers and have disadvantages for estimating allele frequencies within populations, especially for cross-fertilizing species like tea.…”

Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Tea Germplasm for Its Management and Sustainable Use in Korea Genebank

“…The tea is a woody ever-green perennial plant and recorded to be native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China and the northern part of Myanmar [4]. In Korea, although tea was introduced from China as early as the seventh century, the development of the tea industry was slow, and production was small [5].…”