ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewer for insightful comments that have improved the manuscript. Grateful thanks is also due for useful discussions with Dr. Sudripta Das (Biotechnologist, TRA) whenever we needed. The authors are also thankful to Dr. S. Debnath (Microbiologist) and Mr. Shyamal Chakravorty of Tocklai Experimental Station (Jorhat, Assam, India) and Dr. Sampa Das (Dibrugarh Polytechnic, Dibrugarh, Assam, India) for their valuable suggestions. Authors also express sincere thanks to National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Kolkata, India for providing the financial support for carrying out this study.