IJSRP, Volume 4, Issue 9, September 2014 Edition [ISSN 2250-3153]
Olaniyi O.O., Odeyemi O. A., Adewale B. D., Oloyede A.A., Anagbogu C.F., Adeigbe O.O. and Adenuga O.O
Abstract:
The understanding of the genetic resource status of an economic and medicinal crop such as tea (Camellia simensis) is a very relevant prerequisite for its improvement and advancing its research attention. This review summarises the available information on tea breeding in Nigeria. Tea cultivation in Nigeria contributes significantly to the economic development of the tea growing communities especially women who are about 75% in the tea industry. The available information showed that 2045 tonnes, 2914 tonnes made tea were produced in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The major breeding achievement was the adaptability of three tea clones to the lowland regions in Nigeria, standardization of pluck quality, the grouping of tea clones into three distinct groups for further hybridization studies. Induction of callus from tea stem cuttings, shoot apices and flower buds were not left out. Germplasm collection, introduction, hybridization and introduction of biotechnology techniques become urgent steps for tea improvement in Nigeria.