tea (camellia sinensis) as an alternative crop for central...
TRANSCRIPT
Tea (Camellia sinensis) as an Alternative Crop for Central Florida
James Orrock* (1), Brantlee Spakes Richter (1), BalaRathinasabapathi (2)
(1) University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, FL, USA (2) University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL, USA
Project Background
Project#: 00125629
James Orrock
Brantlee Spakes Richter
“Saba” Rathinasabapathi
Objectives and Acknowledgments
• Can tea grow successfully in Florida?
• What varieties and accessions will grow best in Florida’s unique climate?
• Identification of potential pathogens
• Overview– Site Background
– Pruning
– Survival results
– Plant growth and yield
– Anthracnose
• Acknowledgements– Kristen Sandsted
– Yang Yue
New Crop Emergence
Photos (L to R): Bob Mullica, Larry Jordan, OakleyOriginals, Victor Fazio, Jean tuka108 on Flickr
Optimal Conditions for Tea Production
• Evergreen shrub
– High humidity
– Temperatures 60-85F (16-30C)
– Sandy, well drained, acidic, high OM soils
– Shade
Photo: www.sephi.com Munar, Kerala, India
Photo: www.indiawrites.org Assam, India
Photo: www.dammann.fr Fujian, China
Pinehurst Tea Plantation, 1898
Hawaii:US’s only extension-
supported tea industryGreat Mississippi Tea Co.(working towards Organic
cert.)
>10,000 Plants
> 1,000 Plants
Fairhope Tea Plantation(Orig. Lipton Research
Facility)
Pinehurst Tea Plantation, 1888-1915
Charleston Tea Plantation, 1987-2003
Bigelow, 2003-Present
Tea Cultivation in the U.S.
Tea in Florida
Waverly Tea Estate600 plants
Raindrop Gardens160+ plants
30 plants
Green Tea PlantsNursery
Site information• Irrigated every morning and afternoon
for 30 mins – rate of 15 gallons per 100’ of irrigation line
• Fertigated daily and once annual (spring) slow release application– typical industry levels of fertilizer at a rate of
6lbs of N, 8.5lbs of S and 7 lbs of K per acre per week
• row spacing 75 cm (between plants) x 150 cm (between rows)
Our Cultivars Accessions
MS-BL MS-FH MS-GEO MS-SL
CF-AS CF-CH CF-LL CF-QB
20 July 2017 (4 mo. after pruning)
Pruning
• Left unpruned, tea will grow into a tree
• Pruning cycles are adapted to a growing regions wet/dry and warm/cold seasons. – A Florida specific protocol is
needed
– Cultivar architecture, grower objectives, etc…
• 1st Prune = March 2017– Decentering prune (pruned plants
to approx. 8” above ground)
• 2nd Prune = November 2017– Framing prune (Development of 3
evenly spaced branches, 18” above ground)
www.tocklai.org
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.10.041
0%
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CF AS CF LL CF CH MS BL MS FH MS Geo MS SL
% S
urv
ival
Accessions
Survival from Original Planting2016 2017 2018
Heat Stress?
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85
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105
Tem
pe
ratu
re (
F)
Time
Max Temperature 2016 2017 2018
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CF. As CF. CH CF. LL MS. BL MS. FH MS. Geo MS. SL
avg.
bio
mas
s (g
)
Accessions
Pruned Biomass (per plant)Mar-17 Nov-17
• Late frost damage from March 18 data
• Wet weight is pre-processed weight
0
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3.5
CF. As CF. CH CF. LL MS. BL MS. FH MS. Geo MS. SL
wet
we
igh
t (g
)
Accessions
Yield (per plant) Mar-18 Oct-17
Tea Market
• 2016 Global consumption exceeded production
– Consumption growing at ~5%/yr
– Production growing at ~2%/yr
– Medical research backs up health promotion potential of green tea
• US is 3rd largest importer
– Ready-to-Drink (↑6% in 2015)
– Specialty teas (↑10%/yr)
Tea Market
Emerging Industry Challenges
• Flavor Components & Taste Testing
• Plant Selections & Cultivar Development
• Strategic Marketing
Questions?
12 Sept 2017
Anthracnose of Tea
• A known problem in other tea producing countries.
• More tolerant varieties exist in other countries.
0%
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Pe
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nt
Seve
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(as
ave
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# o
f in
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leav
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pe
r p
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Time (2017/2018)
Severity CF AS CF LL CF CH MS BL
MS FH MS Geo MS SL
3.83.2
12.69
6.58
7.74
10.64
2.183.09
1.6
5.23
2.513.16
Rainfall
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Temp Severity
Average Severity and Weather
Future Directions• Heat tolerance
• Other potential pathogens
• Phenolics (Do some varieties have more polyphenols?)
• Identification of accessions to start production of Florida cultivars
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Pe
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Time (Days)
PS2 EfficiencyFairhopeSmall LeafBig Leaf