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Chemical qualities and phenolic compounds of Assam tea after soil drench application of selenium and aluminium

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Abstract

Summary

Tea is considered native to south China and is currently cultivated in many countries, including Thailand, which has been growing increasingly large amounts of Assam tea in the Northern provinces. Although Assam tea contains greater phenolic contents, the flavor is claimed to have an astringent taste due to tannin content. The aims of this study were to improve the chemical qualities, phenolics, and catechins contents on Assam tea grown in a controlled environment of hydroponic subjected with Se and Al. Our results showed that Se and Al enhanced the chemical qualities and phenolics of Assam tea. This characteristic gives an added value to Assam tea, which might stimulate its production for exporting both fresh and dried tea leaf products manufactured in Thailand while simultaneously minimizing importing of tea from abroad.

Background

Assam tea has been grown increasingly in the Northern provinces of Thailand. Although Assam tea contains a greater phenolic content, its flavor is claimed to have an astringent taste due to tannin content. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two beneficial elements; selenium (Se) and aluminium (Al), on the improvement of chemical qualities and phenolics contents of Assam tea.

Scope

Soil drench application of sodium selenite and aluminium sulphate at concentrations of 0, 50, and 500 ppm were applied to pots with 3-year-old Assam tea plants. Tea leaves were harvested at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after the Se and Al treatments.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that Se and Al promoted the ascorbic acid, chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenolics and proline contents of tea leaves. The highest chemical quality and the highest phenolic content were found in tea leaves receiving 50 ppm of Se. The highest catechins derivatives, namely, (+)-gallocatechin (GC), (-)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), (+)-gallocatechingallate (GCG), (-)-epicatechingallate (ECG) and (+)-catechingallate (CG) in tea plants treated with Al were greater than in tea plants treated with Se. The total phenolic content increased with the increment in total chlorophyll, catechins and its derivatives.

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Abbreviations

Se:

Selenium

Al:

Aluminium

GC:

(+)-gallocatechin

EGC:

(-)-epigallocatechin

EC:

(-)-epicatechin

EGCG:

(-)-epigallocatechingallate

GCG:

(+)-gallocatechingallate

ECG:

(-)-epicatechingallate

CG:

(+)-catechingallate

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

RCBD:

Randomized complete block design

GSH-Px:

Glutathione peroxidase

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Higher Education Research Promotion and National Research University Project of Thailand, Office of the Higher Education Commission, the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, the Agriculture Research and Development Agency (ARDA), and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkhuntein, Bangkok, Thailand

    Napaporn Sae-Lee, Orapin Kerdchoechuen & Natta Laohakunjit

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  1. Napaporn Sae-Lee
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  2. Orapin Kerdchoechuen
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  3. Natta Laohakunjit
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Correspondence to Orapin Kerdchoechuen.

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Responsible Editor: Yong Chao Liang.

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Sae-Lee, N., Kerdchoechuen, O. & Laohakunjit, N. Chemical qualities and phenolic compounds of Assam tea after soil drench application of selenium and aluminium. Plant Soil 356, 381–393 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1139-1

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