ANALYZING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF TEA POPULATIONS IN THE WESTERN CAUCASUS

Camellia sinensis tea is one of the most important horticultural crops worldwide and tea is the second most consumed non-alcoholic beverage in the world. Characterization of tea genetic resources in Caucasus is necessary to identify markers associated with important horticultural traits and increase the breeding efficiency. The aim of this study was to search and test efficient molecular markers for characterizing tea genetic resources in the Western Caucasus. As a result of the research, effective ISSR- and SSR-markers were revealed, the genetic structure and diversity of tea were evaluated. The results will be useful for marker-assisted tea breeding in Russia.