Effect of Plucking Standards on Clonal Tea (Camellia sinensis) Selenium and Aluminium Levels

Clonal tea plucking standards on

Abstract

Aluminium (Al) and selenium (Se) are important elements in human health, being cause of Alzheimer’s disease and reducing cancer risks, respectively. Tea beverages are the most popular drinks in the world and could be a major contributor of the element to human diets. Plucking and cultivars are an important agronomic/cultural in-puts in tea production and the partitioning of key element vary with plucking standards/leaf age and cultivars. Although recommended plucking standard is uniform in Kenya, the practiced standard varies with farmers. Clones TRFK 6/8, AHP S15/10, TRFK 31/8 and EPK TN14-3 are important cultivars widely cultivated in East Africa. However, the variations in these element with plucking standards and cultivar is not documented. This study determined the variations in Al and Se in tea leaves due to plucking standards and clones. Se levels declined (p≤0.05) while Al levels increased (p≤0.05) with coarse plucking standards. There were clonal differences (p≤0.05) in the accumulation of the two elements in tea leaves. However, the patterns of changes in the elements with plucking standards varied in different clones causing significant (p≤0.05) clones x plucking standards interactions effects. Proper selection of plucking standards and selection of cultivars can be used to control levels of these element in tea and hence the tea brews. At the recommended plucking standards of 2 leaves and bud plucking standard, both Al and Se within CODEX recommended ranges in all clones. Irrespective of clones, this plucking standard will ensure levels of these element are within the recommended levels.