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Effect of ultraviolet B
irradiation on accumulation of catechins in tea (Camellia
sinensis (L) O. Kuntze)
Zheng XQ, Jin J, Chen H, Du Y.Y, Ye JH, Lu JL, Lin C,
Dong JJ, Sun QL, Wu LY and Liang YR*
Tea
Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029,
China.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
yrliang@zju.edu.cn.
Fax: +86 571 8697 1704.
Accepted
18 August, 2008 |
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Effect
of UV-B irradiation time on accumulation of foliar catechins
in two tea cultivars was investigated. Low influence rate
and short term irradiation of UV-B stimulated accumulation
of major tea catechins, resulting in an increase in level of
total catechins. Excessive irradiation of UV-B supressed the
accumulation of tea catechins. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
increased more quickly than the other catechins under
appropriate UV-B irradiation. The difference in response of
different tea cultivars to UV-B is discussed.
Key
words:
Camellia
sinensis,
UV-B,
catechins, tea cultivar, influence rate, irradiation time. |
