Effect of Pb on growth, accumulation and quality component of tea plant

Abstract

The present study evaluates growth, lead(Pb) uptake and quality component of tea plant grown for 3 years on a Pb contaminated soil. Results showed that phytotoxic symptoms appeared more obviously and biomass decreased significantly as application of Pb increased. The ability of Pb accumulation of tea plant, having a positive correlation with Pb treatment concentrations, was in the sequence of root>stem>shoot. Root was the main part of tea plant to fix Pb. At the minimum concentration of Pb treatment (800 mg.kg-1), Pb content in shoot had exceeded the maximum amount limit (5 mg.kg-1 DM) in tea for safe drinking. Pb increased catechin content while caffeine and free amino acid contents were reduced slightly.