Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant

Abstract Background Micrografting technology has gained popularity in model plants, with the advantages of a wide grafting range and small space. However, this technique has not been fully explored in tea plants. Results In our study, different rootstocks [radicle (obtained from the germination in s...

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Main Authors: Yaohua Cheng, Mengling Lin, Hongying Wang, Ziwen Zhou, Linxin Long, Qi Yang, Qiuyan Ban, Xianchen Zhang, Yeyun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06789-z
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author Yaohua Cheng
Mengling Lin
Hongying Wang
Ziwen Zhou
Linxin Long
Qi Yang
Qiuyan Ban
Xianchen Zhang
Yeyun Li
author_facet Yaohua Cheng
Mengling Lin
Hongying Wang
Ziwen Zhou
Linxin Long
Qi Yang
Qiuyan Ban
Xianchen Zhang
Yeyun Li
author_sort Yaohua Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Micrografting technology has gained popularity in model plants, with the advantages of a wide grafting range and small space. However, this technique has not been fully explored in tea plants. Results In our study, different rootstocks [radicle (obtained from the germination in seed), epicotyl without cotyledons, epicotyl with cotyledons, tea varieties] and scion (red branch, green branch) grafting combinations were used to estimate the survival rate, plant growth, the compatibility behavior, and cold tolerance of grafted seedlings. Our results showed that the higher survival rate and shooting rate were observed in radicle (obtained from the germinated seed diameter ≥ 15 mm, D3) as the rootstock. Also, the same growth indicators were found in the green branch as scion and radicle as rootstock (GB\R) were higher than that of other grafting combinations. In addition, the grafted seedlings of LJ43 as rootstock had the best growth rate, and the vascular bundle bridge was completely established in SCZ as scion and LJ43 as rootstock (SCZ/LJ43) graft combination, accompanied with a higher survival rate, shoot rate and leaf number of new shoots and cold tolerance in field experiments. Conclusion Our findings provide a viable tea micrografting method, which has the potential to substitute traditional tea cuttings for tea seedling propagation and thus meet the requirements of tea cultivation.
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spelling doaj-art-418caee6485a4498932210bc5a4b37ca2025-08-20T02:31:04ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-06-012511910.1186/s12870-025-06789-zEffect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plantYaohua Cheng0Mengling Lin1Hongying Wang2Ziwen Zhou3Linxin Long4Qi Yang5Qiuyan Ban6Xianchen Zhang7Yeyun Li8National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, Anhui Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Micrografting technology has gained popularity in model plants, with the advantages of a wide grafting range and small space. However, this technique has not been fully explored in tea plants. Results In our study, different rootstocks [radicle (obtained from the germination in seed), epicotyl without cotyledons, epicotyl with cotyledons, tea varieties] and scion (red branch, green branch) grafting combinations were used to estimate the survival rate, plant growth, the compatibility behavior, and cold tolerance of grafted seedlings. Our results showed that the higher survival rate and shooting rate were observed in radicle (obtained from the germinated seed diameter ≥ 15 mm, D3) as the rootstock. Also, the same growth indicators were found in the green branch as scion and radicle as rootstock (GB\R) were higher than that of other grafting combinations. In addition, the grafted seedlings of LJ43 as rootstock had the best growth rate, and the vascular bundle bridge was completely established in SCZ as scion and LJ43 as rootstock (SCZ/LJ43) graft combination, accompanied with a higher survival rate, shoot rate and leaf number of new shoots and cold tolerance in field experiments. Conclusion Our findings provide a viable tea micrografting method, which has the potential to substitute traditional tea cuttings for tea seedling propagation and thus meet the requirements of tea cultivation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06789-zCamellia sinensisMicrograftingRootstock and scion selectionCold tolerance
spellingShingle Yaohua Cheng
Mengling Lin
Hongying Wang
Ziwen Zhou
Linxin Long
Qi Yang
Qiuyan Ban
Xianchen Zhang
Yeyun Li
Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
BMC Plant Biology
Camellia sinensis
Micrografting
Rootstock and scion selection
Cold tolerance
title Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
title_full Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
title_fullStr Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
title_full_unstemmed Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
title_short Effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant
title_sort effect of micrografting technique on growth and cold resistance of tea camellia sinensis plant
topic Camellia sinensis
Micrografting
Rootstock and scion selection
Cold tolerance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06789-z
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