Color Shade Nets Affect Plant Growth and Seasonal Leaf Quality of Camellia sinensis Grown in Mississippi, the United States

• DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.786421
• Publication Date: 2022-02-02T05:31:40Z
• Authors: Qianwen Zhang; Guihong Bi; Tongyin Li; Qiushuang Wang; Zhiheng Xing; Judson LeCompte; Richard L. Harkess
• Keywords: Affect

Shading modifies the microenvironment and can provide plants with some protection from frequent heat, drought, frost, hail induced by climate change has potential to improve plant growth, yield, quality. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an ancient originating tropical subtropical regions prefers grow in partial shade under forest canopy. The emerging tea industry United States (US) requires research support on establishing fields novel environmental conditions as well producing high-quality products. This study investigated effects of black, blue, red nets growth seasonal leaf qualities southeastern US a humid climate. When compared no-shade control, increased index (PGI), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), decreased air surface temperatures summer, reduced cold damage winter. No significant difference was found among growth. Varying contents total polyphenols, carbohydrates, free amino acids, L-theanine, gallic acid, caffeine, catechins fresh leaves were observed different treatments harvesting seasons. 69.58% variations depicted biplot principal component analysis. Red considered helpful for improving green quality increasing content L-theanine acids collected spring fall when control.