TY - EJOU AU - XY, He AU - Ye, H AU - Ma, JL AU - Zhang, RQ AU - Chen, GC AU - Xia, YY TI - Semi-lethal high temperature and heat tolerance of eight Camellia species T2 - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany PY - 2012 VL - 81 IS - all SN - 1851-5657 AB - Annual leaf segments of eight Camellia species were used to study the heat tolerance by an electrical conductivity method, in combination with a Logistic equation to ascertain the semi-lethal high temperature by fitting the cell injury rate curve. The relationship between the processing temperature and the cell injury rate in Camellia showed a typical "S" shaped curve, following the Logistic model. The correlation coefficient was above 0.95. The semi-lethal high temperature LT50 of the eight Camellia species, determined by the inflection point on the curve, varied from 50 to 57 LT50 / °C, following the descending order: Camellia oleifera > C. japonica > C. polyodonta > C. semiserrata > C. nitidissima > C. gigantocarpa > C. nanyongensis > C. vietnamensis. The semi-lethal high temperature of C. oleifera was 56.8 °C, and that of C. vietnamensis was 50.6 °C. Results showed C. oleifera appeared as the best suitable species for introduction in high-heat zones. Camellia vietnamensis appeared more suitable for planting in temperate regions at lower temperatures. These results can provide theoretical basis for breeding and introduction of heat-tolerant oil-tea cultivars. KW - Camellia KW - Logistic equation KW - Semi-lethal high temperatures KW - Heat tolerance DO - 10.32604/phyton.2012.81.177