For using as a selection indicator and an estimation data of adaption of teas in breeding system, major chemical components among spontaneous populations of Korean tea plant and "Meiryoku" of an excellent Japanese cultivar were analyzed and compared. The average contents of theanine, the major amino acid which improves its taste in tea, were ranked in sequence of Seonamsa (1.220%) > Beomwangri (1.085%) > Meiryoku (0.943%) > Baekyangsa (0.335%) > Songgwangsa (0.314%) > Dasolsa (0.238%). Arginine contents were in the range from 0.013 to 0.226%. Significantly, Arginine contents of Seonamsa population were extremely higher(about 21 times) than those of "Meiryoku". Total flavanol contents were ranked in sequence of Meiryoku (23.58 mg/g) > Baekyangsa (22.06 mg/g) > Beomwangri (19.72 mg/g) > Seonamsa (16.90 mg/g) > Dasolsa (15.34 mg/g) > Songgwangsa (15.13 mg/g). The lower grade flavanol contents of Korean populations may be possible to use as a genetic resources for green tea cultivar. Total polysaccharide contents, highly varied depending on developmental stage of leaf and manufacturing process, were ranked in sequence of Seonamsa (1.56%) > Dasolsa (1.50%) > Songgwangsa (1.45%) >Meiryoku (1.34%) > Baekyangsa (1.29%) > Beomwangri (0.81%). Contents of ascobic acid and tocopherol in Beomwangri and Dasolsa were higher than those of other populations or cultivar.
(0)
(0)