Somatic Embryogenesis in Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is the oldest caffeine-containing beverage; it supposedly originated from China and North Eastern region of India. From the earliest times tea was known for its properties as a healthy, refreshing drink and the word ch’a was used in China and India. By the third century AD many stories were being told and some written about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) that tea become China’s national drink. Arab traders first introduced tea to Europe in 1559. However, it is the Portuguese and Dutch who claim the credit of bringing tea to Europe. During the late 17th century tea used to be drunk by aristocratic families only. By the middle of the 18th century, however, tea had replaced ale and gin as the drink of the masses and had become Britain’s most popular beverage. Today, tea has become the most popular and cheapest drink in the world. More than half of the world’s population is habituated of tea drinking. India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China and Japan are the traditional tea producers in the world. The demand for tea is ever increasing, and more and more land is being brought under tea plantations. Tea is currently cultivated in more than 50 countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Iran, Turkey, Malawi, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Russia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia.