Abstract
So far, the main Arabica coffee breeding programmes in Latin America have focused on the selection of varieties adapted to intensive full-sun farming systems. Meanwhile, little attention has been paid to breeding varieties specifically adapted to shade, which is the main characteristic of agroforestry systems (AFS). Yet the specialty coffee sector is currently expanding and seeking specific sensory qualities related to exotic varieties and no breeding programme exists to create new varieties for this type of market. Two trials were set up: one in full sun and the other under shade. F1 hybrids and their parents (pure lines and Ethiopian accessions) were studied in a factorial-crossing design to measure tree volume, yield (3 years), bean size, the bean NIRS signature and the final cupping score. Bean size and the final cupping score seemed to be relatively unaffected by shading. Strong maternal heritability was observed for bean size. In the trials, F1 hybrids produced “75–80%” more than the maternal lines and “40–50%” more than the male parents in the shade trial and in the full-sun trial, respectively. By choosing the F1 hybrid, it is possible to increase productivity under both shade and full sun while simultaneously achieving good sensory qualities. Selecting a F1 hybrid for “specialty coffee” seems exceptional. This raises a fundamental issue concerning the maternal heritability of seed biochemical composition. We conclude that selection under shade is essential for the selection of varieties adapted to AFS.
Highlights
Coffee agroforestry systems (AFS) in which coffee is grown in association with other trees on the same plot of land are widespread in many tropical countries
The seed produced by females and F1 hybrids were significantly larger than those produced by Ethiopian males in both shade and sun trials
We showed that the selection of genotypes according to specialty coffee specifications resulted in the selection of coffees only of Ethiopian origin that were remarkable for their sensory quality under shade conditions, and three Ethiopian accessions and three F1 hybrids under fullsun conditions
Summary
Coffee agroforestry systems (AFS) in which coffee is grown in association with other trees on the same plot of land are widespread in many tropical countries. It is very difficult to maintain the ideal level of shade as regulating shade by pruning the branches of the shade trees is expensive, meaning the shade percentage is usually more than 40%. Another important reason put forward to explain the lower productivity of coffee in AFS is the fact that both dwarf and tall varieties developed for intensive full-sun systems are used even though they are not suitable for AFS cropping conditions (Bertrand et al, 2011)
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