Effects of drip irrigation modes on growth and physiological characteristics of Arabica coffee under different N levels

The objective of this study was to obtain the water-saving and efficient production mode of Arabica coffee. The effects of three drip irrigation modes,conventional drip irrigation( CDI),alternate drip irrigation( ADI) and fixed drip irrigation( FDI) on growth,photosynthetic characteristics,biomass accumulation and irrigation water use efficiency of Arabica coffee were investigated under three nitrogen levels,high nitrogen( NH),middle nitrogen( NM) and low nitrogen( NL). The results show that there was a significant Logistic curve between the plant height,the stem diameter of Arabica coffee and growth days. Compared with CDI,ADI had no significant effects on leaf net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductance,instantaneous water use efficiency and biomass accumulation above ground of Arabica coffee,while FDI decreased significantly,ADI and FDI increased irrigation water use efficiency by 50. 59% and 32. 85%,respectively. Compared with NH,with the reduction of N application rate,net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductance,biomass accumulation above ground and irrigation water use efficiency decreased by 6. 81%-12. 30%,13. 70%-22. 69%,9. 61%-16. 67% and 9. 78%-15. 64%,respectively. Compared with CDINH,ADINHdecreased net photosynthesis rate and the stomatal conductance not significantly,other treatments decreased by 9. 16%-19. 22%,14. 49%-32. 91%,and decreased biomass accumulation above ground by 8. 26%-27. 34% except ADINH,and increased irrigation water use efficiency by 16. 46%-60. 95% except CDINMand CDINL. Therefore,alternate drip irrigation under high N level( ADINH) is the best water and nitrogen coupling mode of young Arabica coffee tree for water efficiency.

Sensory Profile of Fermented Arabica Coffee in the Perception of American Cupping Tasters

The consumption of specialty coffees has been growing year after year, indicating that several niches and market forms according to the sensorial orientation of the consumers, as well as the cupping tasters and agents are responsible for the composition of blends, and for the physical and sensory classification of the coffees in the industry. This study presented 5 methods of spontaneous and induced fermentation to different North American cupping tasters, in order to evaluate coffee quality potential, based on the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol. During the months of May to July of 2017, 150 coffee samples were evaluated. Initial results indicate that North American cupping tasters evaluated dry fermented coffees using yeast culture as superiors, in the sensorial aspect, than the more conventional methods in Brazil. Such indication opens new discussions on the acceptance of a determined product, followed by the potential for modification of the sensory route as of the fermentation that will affect the attributes.

Effects of deficit irrigation on soil microorganisms and growth of Arabica coffee(Coffea arabica L.)under different shading cultivation modes

In the present research,the rational coupling mode of irrigation and shading cultivation for rapid growth and water saving of young Arabica coffee shrubs was investigated from 2016 to 2017.Taking full irrigation(FI,1.2Ep)as the control,the effects of three deficit irrigation(DI)(DI1,DI2 and DI3,with 1.0Ep,0.8Ep and 0.6Ep)on soil water content,temperature,microorganism population density,photosynthetic characteristics,canopy structure and dry mass of Arabica coffee under three shading cultivation modes(S0,monoculture coffee;S1,mild shading cultivation,intercropping with one line of Arabica coffee and one line of castor(Ricinus communis L.);S2,severe shading cultivation,intercropping with one line of Arabica coffee and two lines of castor)were investigated using plot experiments.Compared to FI,DI1 not obviously changed the population density of soil bacteria and actinomycetes,but increased net photosynthetic rate(Pn),crown area and dry mass of Arabica coffee by 7.0%,9.53%and 10.46%,respectively.In addition,DI1 also decreased total radiation under canopy(TRUC)by 5.51%.DI2 and DI3 reduced the population density of soil bacteria,fungi and actinomycetes ranging 8.94%-47.06%.Compared to S0,S1 increased the population density of soil fungi,bacteria and actinomycetes by 13.99%,30.77%and 9.72%,respectively.S1 also increased Pn,transpiration rate(Tr),leaf apparent radiation use efficiency(ARUE),leaf area index(LAI)and dry mass by 9.29%,5.39%,60.98%,10.31%and 30.02%,respectively.DI1S1 obtained the highest Pn and dry mass and higher LAI and the lowest TRUC.DI1S1 increased Pn,ARUE and dry mass by 18.98%,72.37%and 62.90%respectively but decreased TRUC by 21.77%when compared to FIS0.Thus,DI1S1 was found to be the rational mode of irrigation and shading cultivation for young Arabica coffee.

Severity of Leaf Rust and Brown Eyespot in Genotypes of Coffea arabica L.Cultivated with High Plant Density

This study investigated the severity of leaf rust and brown eyespot in genotypes of Coffea arabica L. cultivated with high plant density in the region of Caparaó-ES. The experiment was conducted in a competition field, cultivated with high plant density (8333 plants per hectare), following a randomized block design, with 16 genotypes and four replications. The plants were evaluated during consecutive harvests to study two complete reproductive cycles (from 2010 to 2012). Data were obtained for the phenologicalstages of flowering, graining, maturation and vegetative rest of each cycle. The severity of leaf rust (Hemileia vastratrix) and brown eyespot (Cercospora coffeicola) was evaluated using descriptive scales. It was observed that the genotypes are able to keep a considerable level of resistance to the leaf rust and brown eyespot when cultivated with increased density. The genotypes presented variability regarding the severity of the leaf rust and brown eyespot, indicating the existence of differential levels of resistance between them. For cultivation with high plant density, the genotypes Katipó, Paraíso MG H419-1, H419-3-3-7-16-4-1-1, Araponga MG1, Catucaí Amarelo 24/137, Catiguá MG2, Sacramento MG1, Pau-Brasil MG1, Catiguá MG3, Oeiras MG 6851 and Tupi present higher level of resistance for leaf rust. In addition, the genotypes Paraíso MG H419-1, Catiguá MG2, Pau-Brasil MG1, Catiguá MG3, Oeiras MG 6851, Tupi, Catuaí IAC 44, Catuaí IAC 81 and Catuaí IAC 144 present higher level of resistance for brown eyespot.

Applicability of the Method of Linear Dimensions to Estimate Leaf Area in Improved Genotypes of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora

There are different methods to determinate leaf area in coffee plants;however, methodologies that allow measurement of leaf area accurately and in nondestructive ways are very important, as they are less economically costly and enable measurements on the same leaf over time, making it possible to describe accurate patterns of growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of the method to estimate leaf area using linear dimensions of leaves for improved genotypes of Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner. The experiment was conducted in two separated competition fields, each one following factorial schemes 10 × 2, with 10 genotypes and 2 methods to obtain the leaf area: measuring linear dimensions, and using equation model (estimated leaf area) and leaf area integrator (real leaf area). The genotypes for both Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner have different leaf areas, making it possible to discriminate groups of genotypes for both species using the size of their leaves as classification criteria. Even with the differences between genotypes, the pattern of leaf shape remains similar, confirming the applicability of the method to estimate leaf area using linear dimensions of leaves for improved genotypes, such as the model proposed by Barros, without the occurrence of loss of accuracy for the improved genotypes, for both Arabica and Conilon coffee, studied in this experiment.

Effect of Growth Regulators in Production and Rooting of Coffea arabica L.Minicuttings

The plants of C. arabica do not naturally produce a large number of orthotropic sprouts, hindering clonal multiplication by cutting, which would be the simplest technique with a lower cost of production compared to other methods of vegetative propagation. An alternative form, used successfully in the propagation of eucalyptus, is propagation by minicutting, which consists of pruning the shoot apex of the plant, forming the ministumps, which in variable time interval emits the shoots that will be used to make minicutting. In C. arabica plants the number of shoots can be increased with the application of growth regulators and fertilizers. So, the purpose of this work was to verify the effect of growth regulators and foliar fertilizers on the emission and development of orthotropic shoots of C. arabica. The experiment was installed in a randomized complete block design, with ten treatments composed by growth regulators and fertilizers: T1 (Control);T2 (Stimulate + Sturdy + Enervig);T3 (Stimulate + Vitakelp + Biozyme);T4 (Tiba + Sturdy + Enervig);T5 (Tiba + Vitakelp + Biozyme);T6 (Brs + Sturdy + Enervig) T7 (Brs + Vitakelp + Biozyme);T8 (Stimulate);T9 (TIBA);T10 (Brs-Brassinoesteroid), each plot consisting of two plants. Biometric and physiological parameters were evaluated for the ministumps, as well as the biometric parameters of the shoots and plant survival. The results showed that there was no influence of the treatments on the biometric parameters of the ministumps. A greater number of orthotopic sprouts were obtained in treatments with the TIBA growth regulator, as well as a greater plant survival of the minicuttings, after 25 days of transplanting in a greenhouse. It was concluded that TIBA treatments influenced the production and quality of clonal minicuttings of C. arabica.