The Growing And Flowering Characteristics Of New Varieties Of Camellia Oleifera In Fuiian

Camellia oleifera, belonging to genus Camelia, family Theaceae, namely camellia s eed tree, camellia oil tree or white flower tea tree, is a specific economic tree species in China. The camellia oil has high nutritional value. The yield varied from different v arieties of C. oleifera. The regional tests were conducted by using new selected varietie s in Fujian, Min Za You series (brief name, Za You) (Za You 2, Za You 4, Za You 5, Za You 9, Za You 26, and Za You 32), Min You series (brief name, Min) (Min 60, Min 7415, and Min 757), and Min Ke series (Min Ke 3, Min Ke 10, and Min Ke 1 2). The tree height, DBH, crown diameter, crown height, branch number, height under branch, crown shape, spring shoot, summer shoot, autumn shoot and flowering status w ere observed. Also the comprehensive assessment on these varieties was processed. This provides theoretical foundation for the variety selection and extension of camellia speci es. The main results are showed as the followings:1. On the aspect of tree height, Za You 26, Min Ke 3 and Min 60 were the high est, more than 120 cm on tree height, which was obviously higher than that of other v arieties. These varieties grew quickly. The autumn shoots of Za You 4 and Min 60 wer e longer, and they are significant difference to other varieties. There were significant di fference among Min Za You, Min Ke and Min You, and the autumn shoots was obvio usly longer than the others.2. On the aspect of ground diameter growth, Min 60, Za You 26 and Min 757 w ere the highest, more than 22.5 mm in average. The crown diameter of Min 60 was hi gher than that of other varieties, reaching 108 cm. There was no significant difference among these varieties on the height under branches, with relatively uniform. The branch number of Min 60 was obviously more than that of others, with 6.9 in average. The next was Min 757, Min Ke 3, Min Ke 10, and so on. The lowest tree shape indexes were Min 60 and Za You 32, less than 15 The highest were Min Ke 10 and Min Ke 3. On the aspect of morphological feature, since the tree height was the crown height plus the height under branches, and C. oleifera was shrub or small arbor, the crown h eight approached the tree height because the branching was low. The index of tree sha pe is the ratio of tree height to the biggest crown diameter, which is widely used in he analysis of plant characteristics. The index of tree shape of Min 60 and Za You 32 was lowest.3. The flowering phase was determined according to the flower bud number, flowe ring number, and withering number. The results showed the flower bud phase of all va rieties was not consistent. Za You 2 was late, on the initiating flowing phase; Za You 5 and Za You 32 were on the early flowering phase; Za You 4, Za You 9, Za You 26 and Min Ke 12 were on the blooming phase; Min Ke 3, Min Ke 10, Min 60 and M in 757 were on the ending flowering phase; Min 7415 was on the withering phase. Th e flowering phase from early to late:Min 7415, Min Ke 3, Min 757, Min Ke 10, Min 60, Min Ke 12, Min You 4, Za You 26, Za You 9, Za You 9, Za You 32 and Za yo u 2. In general, The flowering phase of Min Za You was late, whereas Min Ke and Min You were later. The flower number of Za You 2, Za You 26 and Min 60 were o bviously more than that of others. There was less varieties except Za You 2, Za You 2 6 and Min 60 with 40 flowers in average.4. On the aspect of the characteristics, there were great significant difference betw een tree height and branch number, ground diameter and crown height, flower number, crown height and branch number, and branch number and autumn shoot. There was sig nificant difference between tree height and ground diameter, ground diameter and branc h number, crown diameter and autumn shoot, flower number, and crown height and aut umn shoot. There was great significant difference between branch number and autumn s hoot, and significant difference between crown diameter, crown height and autumn shoo t, which indicated the more branches it had, the longer autumn shoot it was. Of course, the longer autumn shoots increased the crown diameter and crown height. There was great significant correlation between ground diameter and flower number, significant diff erence between crown diameter and flower number, and close relationship between flow er number and fruit yield, which indicated there was close relationship between ground diameter and crown diameter or ground diameter and individual yield.5. Based on the expert advice, for the 4-year-old camellia trees, the weight indexe s between shape characteristics, growth characteristics, flower number and yield calculat ed out. The results showed the ground diameter and flower number of the 3 to 4-year-old trees affected the yield mostly, and the next was the tree height, branch number an d the indexes of tree shape, but the height under branches seldom affected the yield. U sing the weight indexes derived and the characteristics utility units to calculate the vari eties’scores, the varieties with high scores were Min You 60, Min Za You 2, Min Za You 4 and Min Za You 26.Since the limited of my ability and research conditions, I have not more observat ion data on the characteristics. Since the 3 to 4-year-old trees were in the vigorously g rowing phase and the yield was instable, the individual yield was not determined. In fu ture study, more characteristics, such as crotch angle, leaf characteristics and so on sho uld be observed; the stable individual yield should be determined. The relationship bet ween all characteristics and the yield should be worked out.