GENETIC-VARIABILITY FOR YIELD AND QUALITY IN TEA (CAMELLIA-SINENSIS) CLONES

An experiment was conducted during 1984-88 to study genetic variabilit y for yield and quality characters in 6 clones of tea [Camellia sinens is (L.) O. Kuntze], viz 'TV 9', 'TV 18', 'TV 23', 'Phoobsering 312', ' Tukdah 253' and 'Kangra Local'. The yield showed maximum variability, followed by amino acid N. caffeine N and brightness (%). This indicate d that the material studied was genetically diverse. High heritability associated with high genetic advance was observed for yield, amino; a cid N, brightness (%) and caffeine N. Theaflavin showed positive signi ficant genotypic correlation with total colour and brightness (%). Tot al colour also showed positive significant genotypic correlation with brightness (%) and thearubigins. 'TV 23' was the highest yielder, foll owed by 'Phoobsering 312', 'TV 9' and 'Tukdah 253' compared with 'Kang ra Local'. The quality of 'TV 23' and 'Tukdah 253' was excellent in te rms of theaflavin content arid brightness of made-tea samples.