TITLE:
The Function of Roots of Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) Cultured by a Novel Form of Hydroponics and Soil Acidification
AUTHORS:
Kieko Saito, Masahiko Ikeda
KEYWORDS:
Acid Soil; Hydroponic Culture; Organic Acid; Tea; Root
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.3 No.5,
May
30,
2012
ABSTRACT: A novel form of hydroponic culture was employed to explore the physiological function of roots of a tea plant (Camellia sinensis). The pH of the nutrient solution with an actively growing tea plant decreased during cultivation. Furthermore, no oxalic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid or citric acid, all possible factors in acidification, was detected in the nutrient solution of a growing plant. A proton pump inhibitor suppressed the acidification of the solution. Soil acidification might have been accelerated with a proton released from ammoniacal nitrogen preferentially for the growth, suggesting the specific mechanism of tea plant as a functional food.