Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nitrogen Regimes on Plant Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Tea Quality in Camellia sinensis(L.) O. Kuntze

The effects of inoculation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungus Glomus mosseae on the growth and uptake of mineral nutrients of tea plant(Camellia sinensis), and the quality of tea under different nitrogen(N) application levels were investigated using the pot-culture method. The results indicated that the AM fungi promoted the growth of tea plant, including plant height, aboveground and underground biomass. Moreover, tea plants inoculated with AM fungi and applied with N 0.53 g.kg-1 had the largest dry weight. Both inoculation and N applications increased nutrient acquisition, especially the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Zn and Fe in leaves and N, P, K, Mg and Zn in roots, while Mn and Cu contents in leaves and Mn contents in roots were decreased compared to uninoculated and non-fertilizer treatments. The contents of Ca and Fe in roots were decreased under high level of nitrogen(1.06 g.kg-1). The concentration of soluble sugar, soluble protein, amino acids, caffeine, polyphenols and water-soluble substances in leaves increased, but the polyphenols/amino acids in leaves decreased in inoculated plants under different nitrogen levels. It indicated that the quality of tea was improved by inoculation with AM fungi under different nitrogen levels. Inoculation effect of AM fungi was the best with N level of 0.53 g.kg-1 in this experiment.