Influence of the subtending leaf on the growth of axillary bud and formation of banji bud in tea

Harvesting of tea shoots with shear produced a large number of cut leaves on the bush canopy. The number of cut leaves increased with the increased period of shear harvesting. Damaged leaves showed a low rate of assimilation and translocation but rate of respiration was more. Reduction in the area of photosynthetic machinery and alteration of leaf metabolism due to injury, affected the growth characteristics of axillary bud and general bush health.