UPASI-9
From UPASI Tea Research Institute, propagated as rooted clonal cuttings, not grown from seed. The south Indian counterpart to the Assam clones, grown across the Nilgiris and high ranges — but note it is a susceptible clone under the blister-blight pressure those tracts see every monsoon, not a resistant one; grown there for rooting vigour, drought tolerance and canopy spread instead.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Tea
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- First pluck 2–3 years after planting (clonal cutting)
- Expected yield
- 2,200–2,700 kg made tea/ha/year at full maturity
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- From UPASI Tea Research Foundation (Dr K. S. Venkataramani) — also known by the cultivar name "Athrey"
About this variety
UPASI-9 — also known by its cultivar name "Athrey" — was bred by Dr K. S. Venkataramani at the UPASI Tea Research Institute (now UPASI Tea Research Foundation) in south India. It is a China-type clone that the institute's own variety page recommends for planting or infilling in any south Indian tea-growing region, describing it as an excellent rooter with vigorous, semi-orthotropic growth and an excellent canopy spread, fairly tolerant of drought, and best suited to neutral soils around pH 6.8. It performs well across a range of elevations, which is part of why it became a broadly-used south Indian clone.
Key characteristics
Soil & climate
Soil
- pH
- Best suited to neutral soils, around pH 6.8, per UPASI's own variety page
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First pluck 2–3 years after planting (clonal cutting)
Expected yield
2,200–2,700 kg made tea/ha/year at full maturity
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Fairly drought tolerant compared to many other clones, useful where irrigation is limited
- Vigorous, excellent rooter with strong canopy spread and good performance across a range of elevations
- Recommended by UPASI's own research foundation for planting or infilling in any south Indian tea-growing region
Things to consider
- UPASI's own official variety page for UPASI-9 doesn't address blister blight either way — silence there is not evidence of tolerance. A directly-read academic chapter (IntechOpen, 'Blister Blight Disease of Tea: An Enigma') instead names UPASI-9 among 'the most susceptible tea cultivar[s] prone to blister blight infections,' identifying it as a China-type clone alongside UPASI-15 — A separate WebSearch-corroborated account of an experimental-inoculation study (Photosynthetica, paywalled — not directly read this pass) places UPASI-9 behind UPASI-3 and UPASI-27 in susceptibility ranking, consistent with 'susceptible' rather than 'immune' or 'severely/uniquely affected.' No source found calls UPASI-9 tolerant or resistant.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
Frequently asked questions
Is UPASI-9 resistant to blister blight?
No. UPASI's own official variety page for UPASI-9 doesn't address blister blight at all, but a directly-read academic chapter on the disease names UPASI-9 among the most susceptible China-type UPASI clones. Treat it as a susceptible clone rather than a tolerant one — it's grown in south India for its rooting vigour, drought tolerance and canopy spread, not for blister-blight resistance.
What does the name "Athrey" refer to?
Athrey is UPASI-9's other cultivar name, used interchangeably with the clone number in south Indian tea literature and nursery listings.
Sourced from: Tea Clones — UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Blister Blight Disease of Tea: An Enigma — IntechOpen. editorial policy.