Response of Conilon coffee cultivars in the central cerrado in irrigated management pivot sprinkler

Abstract

Coffee cultivation has been growing significantly, since the world demand has increased considerably in recent decades. Among the coffees, conilon coffee has been a good option for cultivation in the Cerrado, as it presents good production in areas of high altitudes, however the study of canefora coffee in irrigated system in the Cerrado is something recent. The work aimed to analyze the productive potential of superior clones of caneflower coffee cultivars through agronomic performance under irrigated conditions in the Central Cerrado and to select the outstanding clones for future use in genetic improvement programs. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of Embrapa Cerrados in Planaltina - DF, in a randomized block design with three replications. The cultivars evaluated were Diamante ES 8112, ES 8122 - Jequitibá and Centenária ES 8132, each composed of 9 clones totaling 27 conilon coffee genotypes, with different maturation times. The clones were planted with 3.5 x 0.5 m spacing in a center pivot irrigation system. The characteristics evaluated from two harvests (2018 and 2020) were: average grain yield (PMG); percentage of grains retained in sieve 16 (sieve > 16); percentage of mocha grains (GMO); average plant height (AP), crown projection (PC) and number of productive nodes (NNP). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were grouped by the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance level. Based on the result of the analysis of variance, there was a significant difference in all maturation cycles for the traits PMG, sieve > 16, GMO, AP, PC and NNP. The averages of grain size percentage in sieve size 16 or larger were distinct in the 3 groups analyzed. It was found that the averages of production of processed grains (PMG) were different in the two years evaluated, due to the environmental conditions imposed from one year to another. Within the clones, clone 207 presented the highest grain yield value in 2020 with 12493 kg ha-1. There was genotypic variability in the behavior of clonal varieties and their respective clones, being able to select clones and use them within breeding programs, for targeted crosses and subsequent development of new cultivars.