Potential Anti-transpirants for Inducing Drought Tolerance in Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Abstract

Climate change is one of the major challenges affecting the tea industry in Malawi that has led to prolonged periods of drought. Tea in Malawi is largely grown under rain-fed conditions hence it is prone to the effects of drought. The use of antitranspirants is one of the ways of increasing the ability of plants to withstand drought. The effects of green miracle (GMI), muriate of potash (MOP), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and alexin on the response of two cultivars, PC 185 and SFS 204, subjected to three water levels were evaluated in a split-split plot pot experiment. The plants were assessed for days to wilting, degree of wilting and leaf sun-scorch. There were significant differences between the tea cultivars, anti-transpirants and water levels. Plants that were subjected to 50% water level took longer to show signs of wilting when treated with CaCO3, GMI and alexin than those treated with MOP and the control. CaCO3 lessened the degree of sun scorch whereas GMI appeared to be relatively more effective in lessening the degree of wilting. Therefore calcium carbonate, green miracle and alexin can potentially be used to reduce the effects of water stress in tea plants.