Catechin contents in tea (Camellia sinensis) as affected by cultivar and environment and their relation to chlorophyll contents

The variations of the total and individual catechin contents of tea were evaluated among three cultivars grown in 10 locations; the dynamic changes of chlorophyll and catechin contents in two cultivars during young leaf development were also analysed. The results showed the variations of catechin contents among locations were larger than those among cultivars. Correlation analysis indicated that (+)-catechin was the major catechin fraction significantly correlated with climate factors and chlorophyll contents. Moreover, chlorophyll contents were significantly influenced by climate factors, with the highest correlation coefficient for daily lowest temperature. Furthermore, the rise of chlorophyll a content during young leaf development was observed alongside the increase of (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epigallocatechin and the decline of (+)-catechin, suggesting chlorophyll plays a vital role in the regulation of individual catechins.