Seasonal variation in the nitrogen nutrition and carbon assimilation in wild and cultivated Aspalathus linearis (rooibos tea)

Abstract

Rooibos tea is a unique health enhancing beverage made from a shrub-like bush which grows only in the Cederberg mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa. The area has a semi-arid climate and infertile soils which makes crop production challenging. While both wild and cultivated plants are harvested, the research suggests that the wild rooibos plants are better adapted to overcome the harsh environmental conditions. In the light of the increase in aridity projected for the Western Cape of South Africa, these results warrant further investigation into the physiological traits responsible for drought tolerance in wild rooibos plants.