Curing of tea leaves is brought about by the activity of

Options

A. Bacteria
B. Mycorrhiza
C. Viruses
D. Fungi

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Process of Curing Tea Leaves:**
- Curing tea leaves is a process aimed at reducing the harshness and bitterness of the leaves. This is essential for producing a quality tea.

2. **Identifying the Nature of Curing:**
- The curing process involves oxidative dry fermentation. This means that the leaves undergo a chemical transformation where they lose moisture and change in color.

3. **Role of Microorganisms:**
- The curing process is facilitated by microorganisms. We need to identify which type of microorganism is responsible for this process.

4. **Evaluating the Options:**
- The options provided are bacteria, mycorrhizae, viruses, or fungi.
- Mycorrhizae are fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, viruses are pathogens, and fungi generally do not play a significant role in the curing of tea leaves.

5. **Identifying the Specific Bacteria:**
- The specific bacteria involved in the curing of tea leaves is known as Bacillus megaterium. This bacterium helps in the oxidative process that leads to the chemical changes in the leaves.

6. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, the curing of tea leaves is primarily brought about by the activity of bacteria, specifically Bacillus megaterium.

**Final Answer:**
Curing of tea leaves is brought about by the activity of **bacteria**.

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