Variation of Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic Content of Tea (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze) Genotypes

This study was carried out to determine tea (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze) genotypes with high antioxidant activity and also high total phenolic content (TPC) in Rize/Turkey conditions in 2017. In the research, the seeds collected from tea plantations located at different five locations of Rize were used. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in pots in greenhouse at first and then transferred to field conditions. Harvest of fresh leaves was realized for 3.5 leaves (three leaves and bud) in August. Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and total phenol content of young leaves of selected 103 genotypes were determined. As a result, FRAP values varied between 638.4 and 1093.0 mg FeSO4 g(-1) dw while total phenol content varied from 210.9 to 450.6 mg GAE g(-1) dw depending on the genotypes. FRAP values belonging each genotype group representing locations were very close to each other. On the other hand, 87 of a total of 103 genotypes had high antioxidant values. The fact that the genotypes showed a high level of antioxidant activity and total phenol content reveals the presence of evaluable tea genotypes to be used in tea breeding in Rize.