A research on the production, storage and germination of synthetic seeds in tea plant (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze)

Abstract

Tea plant, is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide because of its rich and pleasant flavors and numerous health benefits. In this study, we performed production, storage and germination of synthetic seeds in the tea plant by encapsulation of somatic embryos. In our research, after the encapsulation of the mass-produced embryogenic calli with different doses of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and CaCl2, they were stored at different temperatures and at different times, and then transferred to different nutrient media after the expiry of the different storage period to determine the most suitable nutrient composition for germination. The resulting embryogenic calli were stored after encapsulation and then transferred to germination media. Although there was very little germination in long-term storage, the data obtained were found to be statistically insignificant. The germination rate of the beads, which were transferred directly to the germination medium without storage and encapsulated using 3% Na-Alg and 50 mM CaCl2.2H2O, was determined as 44.44% in the MS medium containing 3 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L IBA. In addition, it was observed in the study that increasing storage time increased the darkening of the beads, while increasing NaAlg and CaCl2 doses caused obtaining harder and more nontransparent beads. Hyperhydricity problem was not encountered in any trial in the study. This study, carried out with our local tea variety.