Association and interrelationship of yield and agronomic characters in coffee (Coffea sp L)

Abstract

Coffee is an important commodity in the international market. However, little attention is given to it and its breeding research in Nigeria. This has resulted to low production and foreign earning. The information on relationship between yield and yield- related characters is an excellent and significant tool for breeding. The experiment was conducted on Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria coffee germplasms. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic relationship and identify traits that have a direct and indirect effect on yield of coffee. A total of 45 coffee genotypes were studied during 2016/2017 cropping season. The data were subjected to correlation coefficients and regression analyses. The result revealed significant (P<0.05) correlation among traits. Weight of seed per tree (actual yield) has strong and positive correlation with trunk height, leaf length, leaf width, stiple arista length, number of flower per axil, number of flower per fascicle, berry width, berry thickness, 100 berry weight, 100 seed weight, and weight of berry per tree. Weight of berry per tree, plant height, number of flower per axil and number of fascicle per node were the predictors and accounted for 94% of the variation observed and therefore be given serious consideration in coffee breeding programmes. Key words: Coffee, germplasm, yield, characters, correlation, stepwise regression.