Contribution of genotype and Bayfolan foliar fertilizer on performance of arabica coffee seedlings and its genetic component

Abstract

Seedling is a determining factor for the success of coffee fruit production. The growth of seedling depends on its genetics and maintenance such as fertilization. The purpose of this research was to determine contribution of arabica coffee genotype and Bayfolan leaf fertilizer on performance of arabica coffee seedlings and to study its genetic components. A factorial experiment using genotype (32 levels) and Bayfolan leaf fertilizer (4 levels) was carried out with a randomized complete block design with three replications at the experimental garden of Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas HKBP Nommensen in Medan. The result revealed that genotype differences in leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and age of the cotyledon opening were highly significant. Bayfolan foliar fertilizer difference in stem diameter was significant. Genotype differences were significant to highly significant in 14 of the 21 phenotype ratios (67%). Genotype and Bayfolan interactions in all of the 28 phenotypes and phenotype ratios were not significant. Genotype variance (s2G) contributed more than Bayfolan to total variance (s2T) in 24 phenotypes and phenotype ratios (86%). Twelve phenotypes and phenotype ratios (43%) had moderate to high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). All phenotypes and phenotype ratios showed moderate to high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PVC) and low coefficient of heritability in broad sense (H2bs). Age of the cotyledon opening, ratio of plant height to leaf area, ratio of stem diameter to leaf area, and ratio of leaf number to leaf area performed moderate genetic advance in percentage of the mean (GAM). As conclusion, plant genetics plays a more important role than fertilizer for seedlings, and there is genetic variability between genotypes. In the future, this genetic variability may be used to improve seedling performance through plant breeding. The result of this research contribute to seedling production method and coffee breeding program.