Tea Genetic Resources: Diversity and Conservation

Tea genetic resources are the sum total of hereditary material, which includes all the alleles of various genes, present in tea plant and its wild relatives. Tea genetic resources consist of modern cultivars, landraces, advanced breeding materials, and wild relatives. These resources offer a wide range of traits, including yield potential, flavor characteristics, resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptability to various growing conditions. By exploring and utilizing tea genetic resources, breeders can develop new and improved tea cultivars with desired traits, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity and the overall quality of tea production. Additionally, tea genetic resources play a crucial role in various systematic studies, such as biochemistry, evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, physiology, molecular studies, and cytogenetics. This chapter focuses on recent advances in the conservation, evaluation, utilization, and diversity of tea genetic resources.