Lush green tea fields with a perfectly shaped tea bush in the foreground.

Unlocking the Secrets to a Perfect Tea Bush: How to Dwarf, Branch, and Boost Your Yields

Nico Varela in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the surprising effects of TIBA on tea plants and how it can revolutionize your tea cultivation practices."

For centuries, tea has been more than just a beverage; it’s an economic cornerstone in many parts of the world. Central to maximizing yields and ensuring top-notch quality is understanding how to manage the growth of tea plants. One critical aspect is regulating shoot branching, a complex process that’s long been a subject of intense research. Plant hormones play a starring role here, and manipulating these hormones can lead to some pretty impressive results.

One technique gaining traction involves plant growth regulators, which can spur shoot branching. By encouraging more branches, growers can sidestep diseases caused by excessive pruning and simultaneously cut down on labor costs. It's all about finding the right balance and understanding the plant's natural tendencies.

Among the key players in this hormonal dance is auxin, a primary hormone that dictates how lateral branches develop. Auxin typically travels from the primary shoot apex downwards, suppressing the growth of axillary buds. But what if you could disrupt this flow? That's where auxin transport inhibitors come into play. These inhibitors, like 2,3,5-Triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), can alter the plant’s growth patterns, potentially unlocking new levels of productivity.

The TIBA Advantage: Dwarfing, Branching, and Yield

Lush green tea fields with a perfectly shaped tea bush in the foreground.

A recent study focused on how TIBA affects tea plants, specifically the 'Longjing 43' cultivar, a popular choice for green tea in China. Researchers applied varying concentrations of TIBA to tea bushes after heavy pruning—essentially, when the plants had just begun to sprout new leaves in late May. The goal? To see how TIBA influences new shoot growth and the development of lateral branches.

The results were compelling. After five months, tea plants treated with TIBA showed a significant reduction in height. Specifically, treatments with 50, 100, and 150 mg/L of TIBA decreased plant height by 13.5%, 22.9%, and 23.3%, respectively. This dwarfing effect is a game-changer for growers looking to manage plant size and density.

Branch Control: The number of lateral branches also saw changes. While lower concentrations of TIBA (50 and 100 mg/L) slightly decreased the number of lateral branches, higher concentrations didn't have as significant an impact.
Branch Length and Diameter: Interestingly, 100 mg/L of TIBA increased the length of lateral branches by a notable 34.3%. Moreover, both 50 and 100 mg/L TIBA treatments increased the diameter of lateral branches by 9.45% and 12.46%, respectively.
Photosynthesis: Over a two-month period, lower concentrations of TIBA (50 and 100 mg/L) didn't significantly hinder photosynthetic rates, ensuring the plants could still efficiently convert sunlight into energy.
Spring Tea Yield: The real kicker? A 100 mg/L TIBA treatment significantly boosted spring tea yield by 19.3% compared to the control group.

These findings suggest that strategic application of TIBA can lead to more compact, manageable tea plants with enhanced lateral branch development. And, crucially, it can boost yields without compromising the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.

Practical Implications and Future Directions

So, what does this mean for tea growers? The study indicates that applying a 100 mg/L TIBA solution after heavy pruning in the summer—specifically, after the plants have sprouted two to three leaves—can optimize plant structure and increase yields. This targeted approach promotes effective lateral branching and can potentially reduce the need for excessive pruning, saving both time and resources.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.scienta.2017.07.060, Alternate LINK

Title: Effects Of Exogenous Tiba On Dwarfing, Shoot Branching And Yield Of Tea Plant (Camellia Sinensis L.)

Subject: Horticulture

Journal: Scientia Horticulturae

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Liping Zhang, Peng Yan, Chen Shen, Lan Zhang, Jipeng Wei, Huanxin Xu, Xin Li, Wenyan Han

Published: 2017-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly does TIBA do to tea plants?

TIBA, or 2,3,5-Triiodobenzoic acid, acts as an auxin transport inhibitor. Auxin is a plant hormone that typically suppresses the growth of axillary buds as it travels down from the primary shoot apex. TIBA disrupts this flow, altering the plant's growth patterns and potentially leading to increased productivity. By inhibiting auxin transport, TIBA encourages lateral branch development, leading to bushier, more compact tea plants.

How does TIBA impact spring tea yield and branch development, and at what concentration is it most effective?

A recent study focusing on the 'Longjing 43' cultivar showed that applying a 100 mg/L TIBA solution after heavy pruning, specifically when the plants had just sprouted two to three new leaves in late May, resulted in a significant boost in spring tea yield, increasing it by 19.3% compared to the control group. This concentration also increased the length of lateral branches by 34.3% and the diameter of lateral branches by 12.46%.

Does TIBA affect the plant's ability to photosynthesize, and what is the significance of this for tea cultivation?

While lower concentrations of TIBA (50 and 100 mg/L) didn't significantly hinder photosynthetic rates, higher concentrations were not tested for photosynthetic rates in the provided text. Maintaining efficient photosynthesis ensures the plants can still effectively convert sunlight into energy, which is vital for overall health and yield. The study focused on a two-month period to assess this impact.

How are dwarfing, branching, and yield related when using TIBA, and what considerations are important for application?

Dwarfing, branching, and yield are interconnected effects. TIBA can lead to a reduction in plant height (dwarfing), making the plants more manageable. It can also influence the number, length, and diameter of lateral branches. A strategic application of TIBA optimizes plant structure by promoting effective lateral branching, which can lead to increased yields and potentially reduce the need for excessive pruning. The ideal concentration to achieve these effects depends on the tea cultivar, time of application, and other environmental factors. The 'Longjing 43' cultivar responded well to 100mg/L of TIBA.

Can TIBA be used on any tea plant variety, or are the effects cultivar-specific?

The provided study focused on the 'Longjing 43' cultivar. Results may vary when using TIBA on other tea plant varieties. The optimal concentration of TIBA and its effects on different cultivars would require further research. Environmental conditions, soil composition, and the overall health of the tea plants can also influence the response to TIBA treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the precise interactions between these factors and the effectiveness of TIBA across a broader range of tea cultivars and growing conditions.