Occurrence and distribution of ppo activity in floral organs of some standard and local cultivars of tea

Variation of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in tea flower organs was studied among established cultivars and plants grown locally. Intervarietal differences among the soluble and bound components of the enzyme in floral organs were observed. Quantitative traits were found to be highly conserved among plants of the same clones but differed widely among plants of different clones and of local varieties/cultivars. The latter originated from seeds and some heterogenity was to be expected.