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Synergistic effect of cytokinin and gibberellins stimulates release of dormancy in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) bud

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Abstract

Reactivation of dormant meristem in banjhi (dormant) shoots is important to enhance the quality and quantity of tea production. The field grown tea bushes were subjected to treatment with dormancy breaking agents such as potassium nitrate (KNO3), thiourea, sodium nitro prusside (SNP), the phytohormones kinetin (Kn) and gibberellins (GA). The efficacy of Kn and GA were comparatively lesser than KNO3 while the combination of Kn and GA (50 and100 ppm respectively) resulted in better dormancy reduction in tea buds. This observation was supported by our results from gene expression study where accumulation patterns of mRNAs corresponding to histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4), cyclins (B2, D1 and D3), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKA), ubiquitination enzymes (FUS, EXT CE2), cyclophilin, E2F, and tubulin were analyzed during growth-dormancy cycles in tea apical buds under the influence of Kn, GA and their combinations. The level of these mRNAs was low in dormant buds, which was significantly increased by foliar application of GA and Kn combination. The present study indicated that the foliar application of GA in combination with Kn will help to improve quality and quantity of tea production by breaking dormancy and stimulating the bud growth.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, UPASI Tea Research Foundation for his encouragement and support during the course of study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UPASI-Tea Research Foundation, Nirar Dam B.P.O, Valparai, Tamil Nadu, 642127, India

    Krishnaraj Thirugnanasambantham, Gajjeraman Prabu & Abul Kalam Azad Mandal

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed University), Pollachi Main Road, Eachanari Post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 021, India

    Gajjeraman Prabu

  3. School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST), Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Katpadi, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India

    Abul Kalam Azad Mandal

  4. Pondicherry Centre for Biological Science and Educational Trust, Jawahar Nagar, Pondicherry, 605005, India

    Krishnaraj Thirugnanasambantham

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Thirugnanasambantham, K., Prabu, G. & Mandal, A.K.A. Synergistic effect of cytokinin and gibberellins stimulates release of dormancy in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) bud. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 26, 1035–1045 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00786-2

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