Bean Size Research Articles

Variability of morphological and phenological traits in <i>Vigna unguiculata</i> (L.) Walp. accessions contrasting by growth type in different ecological and geographical conditions

Background. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a thermophilic crop that occupies the third place in the world in terms of cultivation area among leguminous crops. Vegetable cowpea cultivars are successfully cultivated in the open ground in Russia, in its southern regions and the south of the Far East. The creation of new cultivars adapted to cultivation in different regions and suitable for widespread industrial production, is extremely relevant. Materials and methods. The variability of 20 morphological and 3 phenological traits of six cowpea accessions with different growth habit types and architectonics was assessed in various ecological and geographical conditions at VIR experiment stations (in Astrakhan Province, Primorye Territory and Krasnodar Territory) in 2019-2022. The variability and interrelationships of the traits were estimated using basic and multivariate statistical methods. Results. The analysis revealed a significant influence of the factor complex (genotype/accession, research location) on the variability of traits. Phenological traits, the length of internodes and leaflets, depended most strongly on the research location. The range of variation in the number of nodes, branches, peduncles and beans per plant, stem thickness and bean size were determined by the genotype to a larger extent. The range of stem length variability was significantly influenced by the research location and the genotype, though the genotype had a stronger influence. The genotypes responded differently to changes in growing conditions. For the most of the studied accessions, an increase in the main stem length was noted in the monsoon climate conditions of the Primorye Territory, for some of them the type of growth habit changed from determinate to indeterminate. In our research, the plant length was positively correlated with the amount of precipitation and with the average relative air humidity. Excessive humidity and precipitation had minimal effect only on cv. ʻLyanchiheʼ, whose plants retained dwarfness and compact architectonics. Factor analysis (principal factors analysis) revealed 4 factors responsible for the main part of the variance of the analyzed traits. The characteristics of the leaf were combined in the first factor, those of architectonics and time of plant development in the second, features of the seedling and the juvenile stage in the third, and those of the bean in the fourth factor. These complexes of traits (factors) determined the variability of cowpea in our research. Conclusion. The performed analysis of morphological and phenological traits revealed a significant increase of stem length and changes in plant architectonics under conditions of high relative humidity and a large amount of precipitation. In some cases, even the type of growth habit was changed. The further research on the studied characters variability involving more accessions and the determination of molecular mechanisms that control stability of the growth habit type and length of the stem will allow us to proceed to a more efficient and rapid creation of new cultivars suitable for mechanized cultivation. This is extremely important for the development of new areas by cultivating species, the demand in which as a source of food and feed is increasing in the Russian Federation.

A detailed study on the cooking kinetics of fresh and hard to cook common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): A case study on bean accessions of different market classes

A large-scale study was conducted to obtain a more holistic understanding of the cooking behavior for different bean accessions in terms of cooking kinetics and time to cook. Fresh and aged soaked beans from twenty-four accessions were assessed for texture evolution during cooking at 95 °C using the most informative objective compression texture analysis method. Texture evolution was modelled by the conventional fractional conversion model as well as modified three-parameter models to capture the lag phase. The initial texture varied across bean accessions and is significantly positively related to bean size. Significant but limited differences in initial texture on ageing were observed, the difference being accession dependent. The texture evolution during cooking, cooking kinetics and time to cook varied across bean accessions and storage conditions and all bean accessions developed the hard to cook defect. The softening rate constants for fresh beans were significantly higher (0.026–0.053) and more variable than for aged beans (0.008–0.014, almost similar values). Fresh and aged beans of a given accession softened to similar levels of final relative hardness. The lag phase was more prominent in aged beans (up to ≈25 min) than non-aged beans (0–7 min). Therefore, the difference in time to cook for fresh beans across accessions is mainly determined by the difference in initial hardness and cooking rate constant, while for aged beans these differences depend on initial hardness and lag time and to a lesser extent on the cooking rate constant.

Improvement in the physical quality of genotype G1 arabica coffee beans as a result of applying rice husk ash and KCl fertilizer

Abstract Arabica Gayo coffee has earned global acclaim for its exceptional flavor profile. Its exports primarily consist of green coffee beans, making the physical quality a crucial criterion. Several factors are considered in assessing the physical quality of coffee beans, including shape (normal, single, and damaged) beans as well as size. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the improvement in the genotype G1 arabica coffee beans physical quality through the potassium from rice husk ash and KCI fertilizer. A total of 132 genotype G1 arabica coffee were selected randomly with specific criteria including eight years of age, a 2.5 m x 2.5 m planting distance, well-pruned, grown under shade from lamtoro trees with slightly dense density, and adequately maintained. Moreover, a non-factorial randomized block design was used. The treatments comprised a control, and the potassium application at doses of 29, 58, 87, 116, and 145 kg K2O ha−1 from KCl fertilizer (containing 58% K2O) and rice husk ash (containing 2% K2O), totaling 11 treatment units. Each unit was replicated four times and consisted of three coffee trees, resulting in a total of 132. The research results showed that the potassium fertilizer application from both KCl and rice husk ash increased the 100 beans weight (water content 14-18%), the normal beans percentage, single beans, small and medium beans size, but can reduce the damaged beans percentage and large beans size. The application of 250 kg ha−1 KCl, equivalent to 156.25 g of KCl per coffee trees was found to be the best potassium fertilizer dose for improving all the quality variables of genotype G1 Arabica coffee beans.

The quality and flavour effects of robusta coffee cultivated at various altitudes in Aceh Tengah District - Gayo Highlands were investigated

Abstract Gayo Highland (GH) is known for its arabica GH also planted robusta in lower altitude areas, but its quality is rarely reported. In Indonesia, robusta is mostly planted in Lampung and Java and thus is well-examined and reported. This study explores the quality of the Gayo-robusta-picked coffee cherries and its green bean and the effect of post-harvest practices farmers apply towards the quality of Gayo robusta. This research used RBF Design with two factors and four repetitions. Factor A is altitude levels, which are 600-800 m.a.s.l, 801-1.000 m.a.s.l and 1.001-1.200 m.a.s.l. Factor B is post-harvest practices, which have two levels with and without post-harvest practices. The result shows that 800-1.000 m.a.s.l altitude showed better quality of red cherries (75.25% ± 3.30) as the black and green cherries percentages are lower than other levels. As the altitude increases, green beans tend to have higher moisture, defect value, and bigger size. The average moisture of the green bean was 12.44%, the defect value was 12.51%, and the green bean size that passed the 6.5 mm sieve was 86.84%. For the cupping test, the average score was 67.33. The best treatment was robusta was planted on 600-800 m.a.s.l and, with post-harvest practices, had a cup test value of 80.25 and was considered a quality of fine Robusta.

Increased fruit load influences vegetative growth, dry mass partitioning, and bean quality attributes in full-sun coffee cultivation

Coffee fruits are highly competitive compared to other functional sink organs. This can affect the vegetative growth of the shoot, dry mass partitioning, and the size and amount of healthy beans. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate changes in vegetative growth, physical and sensory attributes of the coffee bean, and total crop yield in response to varying fruit load at the tree level established under full-sun cultivation. The experiment was carried out for two consecutive years under field conditions with coffee trees of the cultivar “Cenicafé 1.” Nine different fruit load intensities at the whole-plant level of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100% were evaluated. The vegetative growth of leaves and branches, leaf area-to-fruit ratio, and dry mass accumulation were evaluated, and growth indices were calculated. Total coffee fruit production, size and distribution of healthy beans, and sensory analysis were determined. As expected, for coffee trees with a 100% fruit load, we found significant decreases in the total number of leaves, leaf area-to-fruit ratio, and branch growth; less dry mass allocated to leaves and branches with a negative correlation between this and the fruit dry mass accumulation; and lower distribution of large and healthy beans. Unexpectedly, annual and accumulated patterns of total production and sensory quality of coffee beverage were not affected by the high fruit load. The findings suggest that increased fruit load in coffee trees of the “Cenicafé 1” variety led to changes in vegetative growth, dry mass partitioning, and physical quality of the beans. However, there was no impact on production patterns and sensory attributes.

Sieve classification and bean defects of coffee genotypes from the Big Coffee VL group

The aim of this study was to evaluate large-bean coffee genotypes from the Big Coffee VL group in terms of bean size and the percentage of post-harvest defects, according to the official Brazilian classification. The experiment was carried out in the Coffee Crop Sector of the Department of Agriculture at the Federal University of Lavras, where the progenies with the greatest production potential were selected, known as "elite" progenies. The experimental design was the Completely Randomized Design. Twelve progenies were selected, arranged in 6 replicates. The samples consisted of 300 grams of fruit from each progeny, which were classified according to grain size: large grains were those retained on the 17 (round sieve) and 13 (oblong sieve) sieves; medium grains were those retained on the 15 (round sieve) and 10 (oblong sieve) sieves and small grains were those retained at the bottom of the sieves. The percentage of mocha grains was obtained from the sum of all the sieves for mocha grains 10 and above. The data was submitted to analysis of variance and grouped using the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. It was observed that there is genetic variability between the progenies that are segregating for the grain size characteristic, with some progenies standing out for their superior performance: M20, M4, G16 and G17. In terms of defect analysis, P14, P23, P32, M4, M5, M11, M20, G9 and G16 showed the lowest percentage of bored fruit. As the selected progenies are still segregating, further studies could be carried out.

Sensory properties of selected biofortified common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties grown in Burundi.

The dry common bean is an important grain legume used for human consumption worldwide. In Eastern Africa, Burundi has a significantly high per capita consumption of the crop. There has been significant research on the underlying agronomic traits of dry biofortified common beans, such as disease resistance. However, there is limited systematic information describing the sensory properties of these bean varieties, particularly in Burundi. This study evaluated the sensory properties of eight cooked dry biofortified common bean varieties using a panel of fifty-four (fourteen plus forty) persons for descriptive sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability tests. Kinure, a traditional non-biofortified common bean variety, was the control. Based on differences in the attributes of the bean varieties, two-dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) explained 58.94% of the variation. The attributes of astringency, consistency, color, juiciness, beany aroma, stickiness, and bean size contributed mostly to the differentiation of the bean varieties. A 95% PCA prediction ellipse displayed stronger congruity in the descriptive attributes of NUV130, NUV91, RWV1129, RWV1272, and RWR2245. In contrast, a deviation in the descriptive attributes of MAC44, MAC70, and RWR2154 was discerned. Regarding consumer acceptability tests, the varieties RWR2245 and MAC44 garnered significantly higher (p < .05) sensory scores on color, aroma, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Therefore, the physical traits of cooked biofortified common bean varieties are a major contributor to varietal disparities in consumer acceptance studies. These parameters can greatly impact the adoption of dry biofortified common beans and could be of concern to common bean breeders.

Sensory evaluation of Poncokusumo Liberica Coffee based on bean size and post-harvest processing

Sensory evaluation of Poncokusumo Liberica Coffee based on bean size and post-harvest processing

An LC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Analysis of 380 Pesticides in Soybeans, Kidney Beans, Black Soybeans, and Mung Beans: The Effect of Bean Grinding on Incurred Residues and Partitioning.

The significance of sample grinding is frequently disregarded during the development of analytical methods, which are often validated with spiked samples that may not accurately reflect incurred residues. This study investigated the particle size of ground beans as a key factor in optimizing extraction efficiency in order to develop a simple quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS)-based modified method for identifying 380 pesticides in beans using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The efficacy of pesticide extraction was found to be significantly affected by particle size. With small particle sizes (>40 mesh), no supernatant was recovered after QuEChERS partitioning. Therefore, a simple modification was performed before partitioning. The modified method was validated for selective extraction of pesticides, limits of quantification, linearity, accuracy, and precision. This method is simple to implement and, therefore, useful for the analysis of pesticide residues in beans.

Peaberry shape and size influence on different coffee postharvest processes

AbstractIn many coffee‐producing countries, the ellipsoidal‐shaped seeds called peaberries are often labeled as a defect because of their shape and reduced size, going against the market demand for large‐sized standard coffee beans. Nevertheless, the peaberry natural occurrence on the coffee plantations is significant, accounting for 5%–7% of the total harvested coffee for Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora, the most planted species worldwide. Nevertheless, recent growth in the peaberry market has happened due to exceptional cupping scores for this specific bean type; however, the relationship between these scores and the shape of the bean was not yet recorded in the literature. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of the shape and size of the peaberry against the standard beans in different postharvest processes: Drying, roasting (colorimetry and inner roasting profiles), grinding (compressive and shear force tests) and overall quality by cupping analysis. Coffea arabica L. var. Cenicafé 1 was used throughout all the experiments, where advanced methods were used to increase the accuracy of the results and deeply characterize the process behavior. The results of this research allow to understand the peaberry postharvest behavior better and add significant value to this often‐underrated bean condition. The peaberries demonstrated shape influence in the different evaluated parameters, allowing them to dry faster, roast evenly, avoid burnt spots, and collapse at homogeneous forces while attaining the same high cup scores as a standard coffee bean.Practical applicationsUnderstanding the peaberries' shape and size influence different postharvest processes is crucial to comprehend their value. By gaining insights, into how these unique beans interact with stages of processing, producers can control and predict their behavior leading to more consistent and optimized results. The findings of this research provide an opportunity to fully incorporate peaberries into the coffee product without considering them as defective beans or expanding market trends. Generally, peaberries were often seen as undesirable because they did not match the bean size and shape. However, their exceptional performance in drying, roasting, grinding and cupping dispels these misconceptions, highlighting their value and contribution to coffee quality. As a result, coffee producers can embrace peaberries as valuable beans without discarding or downgrading them. This newfound appreciation for peaberries does not only reduce waste, but it also diversifies coffee offerings to meet consumer preferences and enriches the industry.

A Rural Delivery-Based Produce Prescription Intervention Improves Glycemic Control and Stress

ObjectiveWe examined the impact of a pilot 24-week delivery-based produce prescription (PRx) intervention with tailored education and culinary resources for rural patients (n = 40) with type-2 diabetes in underresourced communities on behavioral and clinical outcomes. MethodsWe used a single group pretest-posttest design that included a home-delivered PRx, culturally tailored recipes, and health/nutrition education handouts. Measures included hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), self-reported fruit/vegetable consumption, and stress. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were conducted. ResultsMean HbA1c decreased from 7.6 ± 1.6% to 7.1% ± 1.4% (P = 0.001). Self-reported consumption of fruit/vegetables improved, including frequency and serving size of beans (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01), serving size of lettuce salad (P = 0.02), and serving size of vegetable soup (P = 0.001). Perceived stress decreased (P = 0.01). Conclusion and ImplicationsFindings from this pilot PRx intervention suggest a delivery-based PRx with tailored educational resources has the potential to reduce HbA1c and stress while improving fruit/vegetable consumption within rural patients with type-2 diabetes in underresourced communities.

Morpho-Physiological Traits and Phytochemical Compositions of Coffea canephora Beans from Lampung for Various Harvesting Stages and Soaking Durations

Coffea canephora, also known as Robusta, is one of the coffee species that dominates production in Indonesia. The morphology, physiology, and phytochemistry of Canephora coffee beans are affected by many factors, such as the fruit harvesting time and post-harvest processing. The maturity stage of coffee fruits at harvest time and post-harvest management will affect the various morpho-physiological and phytochemical compositions of the coffee beans. This research aimed to observe Canephora coffee beans’ morpho-physiological and phytochemical compositions for various harvesting stages and soaking durations. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD). It tested eight treatments, a combination of harvesting times (H1 = only red fruit/ripe stage, H2 = green, yellow, red fruits/strip-picking stage) and soaking durations (S0 = 0, S1 = 12, S2 = 24, and S3 = 36 h) with four replications. The main observations were the morpho-physiological traits (size, weight, color, moisture content, bean yield) and the phytochemical compositions (TPC = total phenolic content, AA = antioxidant activity, and CC = caffeine content) of the coffee bean before and after the drying process. Based on morphological characteristics (bean size and weight before drying), the highest value came from selective harvesting or ripe-picking only without soaking duration application (H1S0). While the selective harvesting method with a 24 h soaking duration showed a high value for the color trait (L and b*), the treatment that affected the color trait after drying was the strip-picking harvesting method without soaking (a* and b*). On the other hand, the phytochemical contents had H1S0 for the highest TPC and AA values. In contrast, H1S1 or selective harvesting, with 12 h of soaking, had the highest value of CC. The optimum combination of harvesting methods and soaking duration will improve the quality of the Canephora coffee beans.

Effect of fertilization on yield and quality of Arabica coffee grown on mountain terraces in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Coffee, Coffea arabica L., is the most commercially important species of the genus Coffea. It has been grown on the mountain terraces of southwestern Saudi Arabia for centuries. Orchard productivity is generally low due to reduced fruit set and yield caused by the limited use of fertilizers and recurring droughts. The current study was carried out to determine if the coffee trees grown in typical Jazan coffee gardens would respond positively to increased input of fertilizers. The treatments were either 0, 455, 910, or 1365 g tree−1 year−1 of a complete fertilizer mix. The trees also received 2 kg of compost. The yield, cherry fresh weight, bean dry weight and flower density were measured over two consecutive growing seasons. The yield was not significantly changed by fertilization in the first year but was improved in the second year with the trees that received the full dose of fertilizer giving twice as much fruit as the control trees due to higher flower and fruit densities and cherry mass. The application of fertilizer increased cherry fresh mass in both years and tended to increase bean dry mass. The trees that received one dose or 1.5 dose of fertilizer produced a higher proportion of beans of the larger size. Using fertilizers increased tree yield and improved bean size potentially improving farm-gate prices of the crop. The increase in the estimated value of the crop more than covered the cost of fertilization. More trials are needed to determine the effect of fertilization combined with other cultural practices such as drip irrigation, tree pruning and improved pest control on yield, bean quality and liquor taste.

Sistem Pengambilan Keputusan Penentuan Kualitas Biji Kopi Ekspor Menggunakan Metode TOPSIS dan VIKOR (Studi Kasus : Biji Kopi Ekspor Pada Tiap Koperasi)

Coffee, which has grown to be one of the most popular traditional plantation crops, contributes significantly to the economics of a coffee-producing region. Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Gayo Highlands are three of Indonesia's largest coffee-producing districts. A number of standards must be met in order for coffee beans to be regarded high grade and fall into the category of quality beans. TOPSIS and VIKOR methods were utilized in this research to develop a decision support system for assessing the quality of exporting beans. This system generates a rating as an output based on input values and weights, with weight values that can be adjusted by the chosen criteria. The purpose of this research is to develop software for grading coffee beans based on user input such as bean flaws, water volume, bean size, bean color, and aroma. Moreover, after two methods had been evaluated, TOPSIS method with the results of Gayo Permata cooperative with Grade 1 Arabica Gayo Coffee was recognized as the most effective method. Based on the results of KBQ Baburrayan cooperative using Arabica Gayo Coffee, TOPSIS is closer to the ideal solution than the VIKOR approach.

Screening of yield and growth-related SSR markers in Philippine coffee

Yield is a complex trait affected by numerous factors, such as disease resistance, bean size and shape. Molecular markers such as simple sequence repeats (SSRs) can identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with yield. For this study, SSR markers related to yield and growth, such as genes coding for certain protein kinases and ligases, were mined from the available Coffea canephora reference genome. A total of 100 SSR markers were screened using C. arabica (commonly known as Arabica coffee), C. canephora (commonly called as Robusta coffee), C. liberica var. liberica (locally known as Liberica coffee or Kapeng Barako) and C. liberica var. dewevrei (locally called as Kapeng Excelsa) as samples. These types have their own unique growth and yield characteristics making them suitable for comparison. Of the 82 loci successfully amplified, 46 loci were polymorphic. A total of 66 bands from 37 loci were specific to certain types. Nineteen (19) bands were specific to Arabica samples, five for Robusta, three for Liberica, and another three for Excelsa. The other remaining bands were shared by a combination of two or three types. Forty-six bands were found near genes annotated as enzymes that promote plant growth and the ability to respond and adapt to environmental signals like light, hormones and stress factors. The bands specific to Robusta might explain its moderate resiliency to abiotic stress conditions and better yield compared to the other species. These bands are indicative of genetic differences in the yield-related target loci. As such, these markers have great potential in marker-assisted selection for yield and growth improvement of Philippine coffee. This study is the first to identify potential yield and growth-related SSR markers in Philippine coffee types.

Potential of rust-resistant arabica coffee cultivars for specialty coffee production

Rust is the main disease affecting Coffea arabica, the most economically important coffee species. The objective of this study was to analyze C. arabica cultivars with different levels of rust resistance, including bean size, raw bean appearance, final sensory scores (FSS), and aroma and taste nuances of the coffee cup. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks (RBD) with three replications and 20 treatments (cultivars), totaling 60 experimental plots. The rust-susceptible cultivars IPR 100, Rubi MG 1192, and Topázio MG 1190 were compared with 17 rust-resistant cultivars. Cultivars IPR 103, MGS Aranãs, and Saíra II presented the highest percentages of high sieves, highest scores of raw bean appearance, and low percentages of mocha-type beans. All cultivars had FSS above 82 and were classified as specialty coffees. The cultivars with the highest FSS (Arara and Catiguá MG2) showed a greater diversity of coffee cup aroma and flavor nuances. Rust-resistant Arabica coffee cultivars are promising for the physical quality of beans and have potential for the specialty coffee market.

Anatomical Studies and Evaluation of Genetic Stability in Plantlets Derived from Somatic Embryos of Arabica Coffee

Anatomical characteristics regenerant plantlet of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) were observed to determine the difference of plantlet performance between Sigararutang and Maragogige grown in shooting and rooting medium. Transverse sections of the fresh roots, stems and leaves of three-month-old plantlets from somatic embryos were collected and used for the study. Sigararutang and Maragogipe as the plantlet materials were chosen based on the bean size and the origin. Stomata were microscopically observed on the abaxial leaf paradermal section. A conformity test to compare between plantlet and the parent plant was observed to perform genetic stability. Assessment of genetic stability was measured by using the sequence of trnL (UAA) region. The result showed that all the anatomical roots, stems and leaves of the Maragogipe plantlet have a greater number than Sigararutang (root diameter, cortex thickness, distance of long stele, distance of short stele, endodermis thickness, stem diameter, cortex thickness, maximum stele diameter, minimum stele diameter, epidermis thickness, diameter of stomatal closing, length of stomatal closing, total stomatal density, adaxial epidermis density, midrib thickness, adaxial epidermis thickness, abaxial epidermis thickness, diameter of the vascular bundles, lamina thickness), except of epidermis thickness, diameter of the vascular bundles, diameter of stomatal aperture, diameter of stomatal opening, length of stomatal opening and abaxial epidermis density. Taxonomists may be able to use these anatomic traits as supplementary proof in the determination of Arabica coffee. Molecular analysis showed that there were genetically identical organisms between the plantlet and the parent plant. It was indicated there was no somaclonal variation during somatic embryogenesis in the micropropagation of Arabica coffee.

Ecological quality as a coffee quality enhancer. A review.

As both coffee quality and sustainability become increasingly important, there is growing interest in understanding how ecological quality affects coffee quality. Here we analyze, for the first time, the state of evidence that ecological quality, in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, impacts the quality of Coffea arabica and C. canephora, based on 78 studies. The following ecosystem functions were included: pollination; weed, disease, and pest control; water and soil fertility regulation. Biodiversity was described by the presence, percentage, and diversity of shade trees. Coffee quality was described by the green bean physical characteristics, biochemical compounds, and organoleptic characteristics. The presence and diversity of shade trees positively impacted bean size and weight and reduced the percentage of rejected beans, but these observations were not consistent over different altitudes. In fact, little is known about the diversity of shade trees and their influence on biochemical compounds. All biochemical compounds varied with the presence of shade, percentage of shade, and elevation. Coffee beans from more diverse tree shade plantations obtained higher scores for final total organoleptic quality than simplified tree shade and unshaded plantations. Decreasing ecological quality diminished ecosystem functions such as pollination, which in turn negatively affected bean quality. Shade affected pests and diseases in different ways, but weeds were reduced. High soil quality positively affected coffee quality. Shade improved the water use efficiency, such that coffee plants were not water stressed and coffee quality was improved. While knowledge on the influence of shade trees on overall coffee quality remains scarce, there is evidence that agroecosystem simplification is negatively correlated with coffee quality. Given global concerns about biodiversity and habitat loss, we recommend that the overall definition of coffee quality include measures of ecological quality, although these aspects are not always detectable in certain coffee quality characteristics or the final cup.

Effects of shade tree species on soil biogeochemistry and coffee bean quality in plantation coffee

Shade trees are used in many coffee production systems across the globe. Beyond the benefits on biodiversity conservation, climate buffering, carbon sequestration and pathogen regulation, shade trees can impact the soil nutrient status via, for instance, litter inputs and nitrogen fixation. Since soil nutrients affect coffee quality and taste, there is also a potential indirect effect of shade tree species on coffee quality. Yet, in spite of the potentially large impact of shade tree species, quantitative data on the effects of shade trees on (i) soil biogeochemistry and (ii) the associated coffee bean quality remain scarce. To what extent four widely used shade trees species (Acacia abyssinica L., Albizia gummifera L., Cordia africana L. and Croton macrostachyus L.) in a plantation coffee agroforestry system impact soil biogeochemistry, and how this in turn affects coffee quality, measured as cupping scores and bean size. A significant negative impact of N-fixing shade tree species on soil pH and base cation concentrations was found. Plant-available and total phosphorus was enhanced by the presence of Albizia gummifera L. Thus, the present findings demonstrate that careful selection and integration of shade tree species such as Acacia abyssinica L. and Albizia gummifera L. into coffee production systems is a good practice for sustaining soil chemical properties in coffee agroecosystem. Despite the impacts on soil chemical characteristics, the shade tree species had no effect on coffee cup quality but did affect the bean mass. In this particular study, an attempt was made to quantify the impacts of widely used shade tree species on soil biogeochemistry and the subsequent effect on coffee bean quality in a plantation agroforestry system over the course of one season in southwest Ethiopia. However, it might be feasible to accommodate both relatively sparse time-series experimental data consisting of coffee farms from plantations and smallholders, which needs to be the goal of future research to accurately examine the impacts on the outcome variables.

Kaolin particle film mitigates supra-optimal temperature stress effects at leaf scale and increases bean size and productivity of Coffea canephora

Summary In young plants of Coffea canephora, fine particle film based on calcined kaolin (KF) causes a decrease in leaf temperature (Tleaf), minimizing the damages to the photochemical apparatus, especially in summer season, but no report about the ecophysiological responses to KF over phenology is available on this species. We hypothesized that greater ecophysiological effects of KF would occur during the summer phenophase of leaf area and berry expansion (BE) compared with autumn berry maturation phase (BR), and that those benefits will have impact on bean productivity and physical quality. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the effects of KF on some ecophysiological parameters in the last phenophases of C. canephora biennial cycle, bean productivity, and bean size classification. During the complete phenological cycle, eight applications of KF were performed, totaling 80 kg of KF ha−1 in two years. KF applications and ecophysiological measurements occurred during the BE and BR phenophases. Firstly, we documented temporal dynamics in responses of field-grown C. canephora adult plants to KF application. KF reduced Tleaf and crop water stress index and increased the thermal index of relative stomatal conductance and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD index) observed in the autumn BR (opposite to young plants). The positive impact of KF on chlorophyll a fluorescence was proportionally similar among the observed phenophases. Secondly, KF increased bean size 16 by 50% and increased total productivity. The plants treated with KF increased productivity by 1.7 t ha− commercially useful bean mass compared to the control. The kaolin dose of 40 kg ha−1 distributed four times per year was highly effective as a protection strategy against high-light and elevated Tair.