Russian scientists work for making tea plants more resistant to drought and definitely have some success.
      
      Tea plants love water and evaporate it quite actively. Russia has the only site, suitable for growing tea – the Black sea coast, Krasnodar region; however, the climate there is hot and dry. Scientists recommend growing right kinds of tea plants.
      
      Scientists spent over 10 years comparing various kinds of tea plants and found the one, which survived dry times best of all - it is the “Kartum” sort.
      
      Researchers discovered that plant adaptability can be increased by proper fertilizing. Tea plants were sprayed with copper, zinc, manganese and iron sulfates. Two of mentioned sulfates (zinc and manganese) appeared to improve plant moisture status and eliminate water deficiency – leaves accumulated water and evaporated less moisture. Soil dressing by same salts improved productivity and quality of tea leaves, and metal concentrations in tea never exceeded maximum allowable concentrations.
      
      Source: Science & Technology