XVI International Botanical Congess

Camellia sinensis is an important beverge crop in Taiwan. It has been cultivated in Taiwan for more than two hundred years. The commercial cultivars were originated mainly from southeastern China with a few from India and Japan. The native wild tea occurs in several mountains in Taiwan. Thirty-seven samples were analyzed in the present RAPD study. The samples included 21 clones of China tea (var. sinensis), 3 clones of Assam tea (var. assamica), 7 clones developed in Taiwan from hybrids between China tea and Assam tea, and 6 accessions of native wild tea. Twelve random primers were used and 53 polymorphic bands were recorded. The results of cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis showed that the samples were divided into three main groups of China tea, Assam tea, and native wild tea. The clones developed in Taiwan were clustered in the China tea group, suggesting the selection was in the direction of China tea. The native wild tea formed an isolated group, indicating the genetic difference between native wild tea and cultivated tea.