Dynamics of caffeine and polyphenols in pluckable tea shoots of ten clonal agrotypes cultured at BTRISS, Odahlea, Bangladesh

Abstract

Caffeine and polyphenol status in pluckable shoots of ten clonal agrotypes (viz; TV, and BT,-BT,) of 20 years old tea plants cultured under same agro-climatic conditions at BTRISS, Odahlea, were studied on three plucking periods (viz; increasing, peak and decreasing) in a full tea year. The soil of tea plantation sites was assessed to be sandyclay-loam, acidic and infertile. Estimated caffeine and polyphenol contents ranged from 27.57-37.39 mgg-I and 11 7.89-21 1.39 mgg-I respectively in all clonal agrotypes. Maximum values for caffeine and polyphenol contents were measured on increasing and peak period respectively in each clonal agrotype. It concludes that caffeine and polyphenol contents of pluckable tea shoots of ten clonal agrotypes varied markedly with plucking periods compared to agrotypes and can be ranked superior in the order of BT, for caffeine and BT, for polyphenol contents. This study suggests the mechanism of manufacturing of high, medium and low graded tea of caffeine and polyphenol with season irrespective to agrotypes.