Selection of ‘clone heads’ from robusta coffee plants (Coffea canephora) in the dry tropics of Ecuador

The study was carried out from June 2007 to December 2012 at the Café Robusta Experimental Center located in Las Mercedes, Isidro Ayora, in the province of Guayas, at a “Dry Tropical Forest” zone. The objective was to select plants ‘clone heads’ of high genetic value to promote coffee production in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Duicela Guambi, Luis Alberto (author)
Other Authors: Corral Castillo, Gianni Rubén (author), Chilán Villafuerte, Willian Paul (author)
Format: article
Language:spa
Published: 2016
Online Access:https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/110
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Summary:The study was carried out from June 2007 to December 2012 at the Café Robusta Experimental Center located in Las Mercedes, Isidro Ayora, in the province of Guayas, at a “Dry Tropical Forest” zone. The objective was to select plants ‘clone heads’ of high genetic value to promote coffee production in the dry tropics of the Ecuadorian Coast. We evaluated 32 accessions from different origins, each one composed by 20 coffee bushes. First, we evaluated the morphological and productive characteristics of the accessions. Second, we included the analysis of organoleptic and industrial aspects of the most important plants. Statistical analysis included descriptive graphs, analysis of variance, main components and hierarchical clusters. Through our results, we identified and selected two Conilon and seven Robusta accessions. The selected ‘clone heads’ were as follows: CONERB-01-Planta 13-14-17-20, CON-ETP-01-Planta 11, COF-01-Plantas 02 y 04, COF-02-Plantas 15 y 17, COF-04-Planta 18, COF-05-Planta 2, COF-06-Plantas 3-15-17, NP-4024-Planta 15 and NP-2024-Planta 10. The productive potential of the selected plants varied from 2.5 to 3.9 ton ha-1. Finally, we found evidence of the existence of highly productive genotypes, that are adapted to the dry tropic and intensive crop management and irrigation.