Journal of Tea Science Research, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 12-20 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 13 application of germplasm variability, and field proof of trait validation. The integration of traditional breeding with molecular techniques is showing great potential to overcome existing bottlenecks and accelerate the development of superior tea varieties (Xia et al., 2020; Li et al., 2023b). This study provides a comprehensive picture of the role played by conventional breeding in tea cultivar development. It advocates the use of conventional breeding techniques and existing technological developments in molecular technology to maximize efficiency and accuracy in breeding. By highlighting effective integration strategies and addressing the challenges raised, the review offers advice in support of the development of a robust, contemporary tea breeding system based upon set principles and underpinned by molecular advancements to meet the shifting requirements of the tea industry. 2 Traditional Tea Breeding Methods and Their Development 2.1 Seed selection and elite tree selection Traditional tea breeding started with the selection of elite individuals from diversified seedling populations. The method relies on the identification of elite trees with desirable traits like yield, quality, and stress resistance through agronomic qualities. Morphological description is increasingly becoming a cost-effective approach for initial selection, but molecular markers are increasingly being used to confirm genetic variability and elite status for safeguarding and using valuable germplasm resources (Bandara et al., 2024; Ni et al., 2024). 2.2 Hybrid breeding and systematic selection Hybridization is the basis of tea breeding that provides scope for the integration of favorable traits from heterogenous parents. Successive selection with subsequent controlled hybridization has produced cultivars that possess increased yield, quality, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Hybrid breeding is complemented by physical and chemical mutagenesis to create new variation, and early selection among promising hybrids is increasingly being helped by molecular and phenotypic screening (Ranatunga, 2019). 2.3 Clonal propagation and cultivar dissemination Clonal propagation, primarily through cuttings, allows one to quickly propagate and disseminate elite cultivars and offer homogeneity at the plantation scale. The method does speed up the spread of superior genotypes but has a tendency to lead to genetic bottlenecks, thus the need to preserve genetic diversity using constant selection and conservation (Bandara et al., 2024). 2.4 Achievements and representative cultivar cases of traditional breeding at different stages Traditional breeding methods have initiated the development and use of a plethora of high-yielding and high-quality new tea cultivars. As an example, selection of nitrogen-efficient cultivar such as BY1 and Longjing 43 (LJ43) has significantly enhanced sustainable tea cultivation on low-input conditions (Zheng et al., 2025). In recent decades, there have been better cultivars like LC6, LC7, and LC17, which were bred with a systemic strategy, exhibiting superior performances in both agronomic quality and biochemical quality, as precious examples of higher yields and better qualities at the same time (Li et al., 2023a; Shen et al., 2023). Until now, more than 130 national-level tea cultivars have been developed and registered in China, with each of them demonstrating superior adaptability to different processing technologies and regional ecological conditions, thereby giving strong guarantee for the continued development of China's tea industry. With the application of multi-disciplinary technologies such as molecular markers, genomic selection, phenomics, and multi-omics integration, efficiency and accuracy in tea breeding have been enhanced step by step. The role and contribution of these technologies to cultivar development are illustrated in Figure 1. 3 Application of Traditional Breeding in Tea Trait Improvement 3.1 Breeding and application of high-yield, high-quality cultivars Traditional breeding through phenotypic selection and hybridization has been an important factor in the development of quality and yield high tea cultivars. Recent genomic studies have identified major genetic loci and candidate genes responsible for yield, leaf shape, and flavor factors and have provided a scientific basis for elite
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