Genetic improvement and breeding of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in China: from individual selection to hybridization and molecular breeding

Tea is an important revenue source for the tea producing countries in the world, including China. China is the place of origin of tea plants, it has the broadest genetic variations in the world. It also has bred more than 200 improved cultivars. The improved cultivars have made important contribution in the tea industry. In this paper the achievements of tea genetic improvement and breeding, the current situation of collection, conservation, appraisal and evaluation of tea germplasms, the establishment and development of tea breeding system were reviewed. The main research emphases for the genetics and breeding of tea plant in the near future in China are proposed.