A preliminary study of aluminium and the tea bush

Summary

The phenomenon of uptake of aluminium by the tea bush has been examined in relation to its constancy as a characteristic feature, age of leaf and tree, genetic constitution, resistance to certain diseases, distribution within the plant, interactions with manganese and phosphorus, soil, essentiality and finally in relation to other aluminium-plants.

Strong aluminium absorption appears to be a constant feature for all healthy bushes of any age, the element is stored in the oldest leaves but it does not impart any resistance to “blister blight” but it occurs to a greater extent than normal in flushes with “tea yellows”; it is gene-controlled, there being three distinct levels of accumulation corresponding with the three major divisions of the species. The presence of abundant available aluminium in the soil will not prevent excessive uptake of managanese accompanied by severe leaf scorch and spotting in bright light. Aluminium tends to diminish leaf phosphorus while manganese tends to increase it. Large amounts of available soil manganese may induce greater uptake of aluminium andvice versa. Small quantities of aluminium within tea leaves are associated with degree of greenness, but the large accumulations probably do not serve any useful purpose. Exchangeable soil aluminium may stimulate roots, particularly tap-roots or root-stocks. The tea bush may be a relict plant like so many of other aluminium accumulators.