Floral Biology & Plant Breeding objective of tea

1. About Floral Biology

Floral biology has important practical implications, in addition to its scientific relevance, given that flower characteristics and bloom affect fruit characteristics and yield. Yield derives from fruit quality (e.g. weight) and quantity (i.e. number), which, in turns, depend on flower quantity and quality: flowers must be suitable to become fruits, and then must be pollinated and fertilized, and must set fruits, which must then grow. Not all flowers can do all of this: some flowers, for instance, have aborted ovaries which are partially developed or absent at bloom, depending on when the abortion occurred. Even when still present, these aborted ovaries are not capable of becoming fruits. Normal pistils, may not be pollinated or fertilized, but also fertilized ovaries may drop after some growth, resulting in fruit drop.

Angiosperm flowers are the most advanced and structurally intricate in the Plant Kingdom. Their multiple components each have one or more specialized functions, most importantly the female and male generative organs, the pistil (gynoecium) and the anthers (androecium) respectively. Other floral organs also contribute to the success of the reproductive process. The sepals (calyx) protect the flower in bud, and in some species contribute to the floral display and even photosynthesis. The petals (corolla) are usually the main component of the floral display, which in animal-pollinated flowers provide visual and olfactory attraction.

SUBSIDIES GIVEN TO TEA INDUSTRY AND IMPACT OF SUBSIDIES

1.     Introduction

1.1 Srilanka Tea Industry 

The tea production in year 2011 was 328 mn kg. It was estimated that the said quantity will be 330 mn kg in the year 2012. However, the total tea production up to August 2012 was 214 mn kg and it is projected that the total tea production at the end of the year will be 321 mn kg. The decline in the production was caused by the unexpected unfavorable weather conditions.

The average price of tea at the Colombo tea auction which was stood at Rs.363.87 per kg in the first eight months of the year 2011 has increased by 5.1% up to Rs.382.48 per kg during the corresponding period of the year 2012. Further, the FOB price in the first eight months of the year 2011 amounted to Rs.503.48 per kg and it was recorded as Rs.541.32 per kg in the first eight months of the year 2012. It is a 7.5% increase.

At present, tea cultivation has expanded in the extent of 203,885 hectares of which 120,664 hectares (59%) are owned by the tea small holding sector. Further, 73,708 hectares (36%) are owned by 21 Regional Plantation Companies and 9,513 hectares (5%) are owned by the state Plantations institutions