Biometry and diversity of Arabica coffee genotypes cultivated in a high density plant system

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The present study was developed to respond to the need for an increase in crop yield in the mountain region of Caparaó (southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil), an area of traditional coffee production. This study aimed to analyze the diversity and characterize the crop yield of genotypes of Coffea arabica L. with potential for cultivation in high plant density systems. In addition, it also aimed to quantify the expression of agronomic traits in this cultivation system and provide information on the genotypes with the highest cultivation potential in the studied region. The experiment followed a randomized block design with 16 genotypes, four repetitions, and six plants per experimental plot. Plant spacing was 2.00 x 0.60 m, with a total of 8333 plants per hectare, representing a high-density cultivation system. Coffee plants were cultivated until the start of their reproductive phenological cycles and were evaluated along four complete reproductive cycles. Genotypes with high crop yield and beverage quality, short canopy, and rust resistance were selected. C. arabica genotypes showed variability in almost all characteristics. It was possible to identify different responses among genotypes grown in a high plant density cultivation system. Although the chlorophyll a content was similar among genotypes, the genotypes Acauã, Araponga MG1, Sacramento MG1, Tupi, and Catuaí IAC 44 showed a higher chlorophyll b content than the other genotypes. Among these, Sacramento MG1 also showed high leafiness and growth of vegetative structures, whereas Araponga MG1, Pau-Brasil MG1, and Tupi showed high fruit production. In addition, Araponga MG1 had also a higher and more stable crop yield over the years.

Biometric analysis of arabica coffee grown in low potassium nutrient solution under greenhouse conditions

“…For most traits, the coefficient of genetic variation (CV g ) was higher than the CV e , confirming the predominance of genetic compared to environmental components. According to Rodrigues et al (2016), when the genetic variation is higher than environmental variation there are favorable conditions for selecting genotypes.…”

Coffee pruning: Importance of diversity among genotypes of Coffea arabica

“…This results are evidences of a complete recovery of grain filling from this genotype, since its higher processing ratio was also observed in plants without intervention by pruning (Rodrigues et al, 2016).…”

“…This behavior for some genotypes, such as Araponga MG1 and Pau-Brasil MG1, may be related to a higher degree of adaptation for systems with high plant density, as also observed by Rodrigues et al (2016).…”

“…The pruning seems to stimulate the production of plants of the genotype Sacramento MG1, since this genotype tend to develop vigorous vegetative growth when cultivated with high plant density, but overall yield with less fruits in several others genotypes Rodrigues et al (2016). After pruning however, the intervention in canopy seems to promote the production to the point of the genotype to achieve similar yield than other highly productive cultivars, this fact may be a response to the enhanced light penetration in the canopies favoring the blossoming and development of reproductive structures (DaMatta et al, 2007).…”

“…Sixteen genotypes of Arabica coffee (C. arabica Lineu), chosen from previews studies that affirmed their potential to be cultivated in this region (Rodrigues et al, 2016), were cultivated in a randomized block design, with four repetitions (six plants per plot). Plant spacing was 2.00 x 0.60 m, representing a high-density cultivation (Androcioli Filho and Androcioli, 2011), which was grown following the agricultural practices currently recommended for the region (Prezotti et al, 2007;Cunha, 2010, Reis et al, 2011).…”