Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology

Changes in temperature, rainfall, and the occurrence of extreme weather events have been adversely affecting the tea sector. Drought effects on tea (Camellia sinensis) plants can be seen as an alteration of many physiological and biochemical processes. Apart from the agronomic and cultivar aspects, drought tolerance ability and the drought stress mitigation ability can be improved by the application of some mineral nutrients soon after drought sets in. Due to unpredictable weather pattern in tea growing regions, it has become difficult to determine the correct application time of these minerals. Therefore, exploring the capability of using osmolytes to address the short-term drought effects in young tea is a timely need for the sustainability of the tea industry. Hence, drought stress mitigation strategy was tested with the foliar application of three concentrations of Glycine Betaine (GB) (4, 12, 20 g/L) including Water Spray (WS) and No Spray (NS) treatments for one-year-old potted tea plants of TRI 2025 (drought tolerant) and TRI 2023 (drought susceptible) tea cultivars under glasshouse conditions. Measurements were taken on physiological parameters such as photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, temperature, relative water content (RWC) as well as proline and sugar content were taken as biochemical parameters of tea plants exposed to drought stress. There is a difference in response of different tea cultivars to the exogenous application of Glycine Betaine during a short-term drought. A significantly higher (p < 0.05) photosynthesis rate was recorded in 12 g/L GB treatment for cultivar TRI 2025 and no clear pattern of variation was observed in TRI 2023. Further investigation is necessary to make a firm conclusion.