A Study of the Early Growth of Cuttings of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze)

The changes in dry matter, leaf area, and moisture contentsof tea cuttings in two situations, a veranda and an outsidenursery under two watering régimes are described. Theestimates of the changes in dry matter and moisture from monthto month were obtained by sampling and adjusting the sampledweights according to the linear measurements made on the cuttingsdesignated for the final sampling. The greatest rate of increasein dry matter occurred within 51 days of planting in all exceptthe light watering treatment in the veranda. Most of this initialincrement in dry matter was retained by the original cuttingleaf. Subsequently, accumulation of dry matter was at a slowerrate and over the last sampling period a net loss occurred dueto the abscission of some original leaves. The greatest rateof increase was under the heavy watering treatment in the nursery. Shoot growth commenced after the 51st day and reached its maximumrate between the third and fourth samplings. The leaf area andshoot dry weight of cuttings with shoots existent prior to the8ist day did not increase in the last two sampling periods,as the shoots had completed a flush cycle and had become banji(dormant). Root growth was first noted at the third sampling.The growth of both root and shoot was greatest under the heavywatering nursery treatment. The percentage of moisture in the cuttings was not increasedby the watering treatment. The data are discussed with reference to the modifying influenceof the treatments on the growth type.