Result of the coffee cultivars by WCR (World Coffee Research)

Duration of the Project: April 2018 - March 2019

Project Site: Benguet Province, Philippines

Grant: WE21 Japan / Green Fund

Person in Charge : Lily Jamias

objective:

           the objective of this project is to:

1.     Ascertain the genetic identity in the sample areas

This idea was conducted to make sure that the coffee we are naming is authentic and real. Some of the coffee buyers are questioning that the coffee trees they have seen here are not what they know or seen in the other places

           We also did this study to make sure that the coffee exported to other countries is true-to-type.

2.     To be able to reproduce from the sample.

In the long run, the coffee samples from the study will become the mother tree or seed source for reproduction.

Methods:

Location:

           The 5 coffee samples were gathered from the model farm of Benguet State University(BSU) where most seeds in other parts of Cordillera are sourced. BSU is at La Trinidad, Benguet, pioneer of Arabica coffee and study area for Agriculture.

           Another source is in Coroz, Tublay, Benguet, one of the project sites a nursery project site for coffee for CGN

Process:

           10 species and 3 leaves samples collected randomly in the mentioned area. The samples were inspected by the Bureau of Plants and Phytosanitary. Each of the samples was dried well and packed in a zipped pack. And packed again in an envelope, it was sent to the World Coffee Research in France.

           The World Coffee Research received the samples on May 10, 2019. DNA was extracted and compared against a reference database of molecular markers known to distinguish between Arabica coffee varieties.

           The result was received after 2 months. 

Result:

WCR Coffee Samples

           The 10-leaf samples were collected from BSU agroforestry compound (5 samples) and Coroz, Tublay (5 samples). The objectives of the conduct of the genetic identification of the coffees in the 2 sites are:

1.     To identify coffee varieties of Arbicas that is true-to its-identification for reproduction to farmers.

2.     Give proof for giving changes of name when reproduced

3.     To make a mini-catalog for this genetically identified coffees for farmers

4.     Used as base-line to identify other coffee trees

Tree #1: Locally named as Bourbon

WCR Result:

Crosses of Typica and Bourbon

Mundo Novo: This tall cultivar was selected from a natural cross of Sumatra (Typica) and Red Bourbon. It has good productivity but some susceptibility to main pests and diseases. 

Catuai: originated from a hybrid between Mundo Novo and Yellow Caturra. It has good productivity and susceptibility to all main pests and diseases. (Source: SCA)

Botanical description:

This coffee tree is a common cultivar of Arabica coffee which adopted its name from Ile Bourbon. The leaves are medium-broad and pointed tip. It is tall with an upright stand and stronger stem than Typica. It has bronze tip leaves especially when young. The node of cherries is similar to typical Arabica which is 4-5 inches. The tree is also observed prone to leaf rust. This coffee tree also bears round red cherries and rounded seeds. 

Tree #2 Locally known as Granica

WCR result:

Source: BSU, La Trinidad, Benguet

Botanical Description:

This coffee tree is a common Arabica plant. Leaves is broad and elongated, long pointed tip, and with a distinct wavy margin. The tree is observed to be prone to diseases such as die-back, and coffee leaf rust. It yields minimal to medium potential. It bears orange medium-sized round and oblong coffee cherries (sometimes flattened in 2 sides of the cherries). It ripens earlier than other coffee Arabicas

Tree #3: Locally known as Bourbon

Source: Coroz, Tublay, Benguet

WCR result:

Botanical Description:

This coffee tree germinated from floaters that were culled out from rejects, it was not supposed to grow but it grew and bore fruits. This was chosen because of the differences from other coffees. The sample was retrieved from a 10year old coffee tree. The coffee tree is tall, leaves are small, and slightly wavy margin, with a short pointed tip. It bears bright oblong red cherries when ripe. It is also prone to insect (stem borer) and leaf rust. Yield is minimum to medium potential only. 

Tree #4:Locally know as Bourbon

Source: Coroz, Tublay

WCR Result:

Botanical Description:

This bourbon coffee tree is tall and the bole is straight. It has wider leaves than Typica, the wavy margin is distinct with a long pointed tip. The leaves are lighter green, it has a bronze young tip. The coffee cherries are red to purple when ripe. The pulp is thinner than other coffee cherries.

Tree #5: Locally known as Mondonovo

WCR Result:

Botanical Description:

 This specie has wide, dark, and oblong shape leaves very similar to robusta with green shoot tip. The red cherries are round and ripened later than the other beans. Every node of the stem bears cherries for about 18-20 cherries compared to other Arabicas which bear cherries for 10-12 cherries in every node. The tree is short for about 3-5ft when bearing.

Tree #6: Locally known as Mondonovo

WCR Result:

Botanical Description:

The leaves are dark green, oblong, and no distinct wavy leaf margin, the node is narrower compared to other trees. The shoot has a distinct bronze tip. The dark, round red cherries ripen later than other beans. The bearing trees are 3-5 ft. than other coffee trees that are taller when bearing.

The sample was taken as requested by Dr. Basalong to get a sample for their reference.

Tree #7: Locally known as MSAC Selection

Botanical Description:

This coffee is believed to be a mutation of Typica and bourbon but has no definite source for comparison. It was locally named as MSAC selection because of its botanical difference from other Arabica coffee. This coffee tree has smaller leaves compared to typica which is smaller than the other strains. The young leaves are light green and turn green when mature. It has a distinct wavy leaf margin with a long pointed tip, and a red shoot tip. The red cherries are smaller and oblong shape.

Tree #8: Yellow Caturra

Botanical Description

The tree grows more than 5ft tall, the branches are spreading horizontally. The leaves are also with a wavy margin, elliptical, and light green when young and green when matured and shoot tip is green as well. The cherries are yellow and ripe and oblong and flattened in 2 sides (elliptical), with thin pulp (same with bourbon orange).

Tree #9: Locally called Kenya

Botanical Description:

The tree is tall more than 5 ft tall when bearing, the branches are horizontally long spreading and nodes are with wider distance with the other. Leaves are from bronze color when young to green when matured, it can be distinguished by its soft bronze shoot. It is observed that it low resistant to pest and disease also. The cherry is red to dark red color when ripe and round color with thicker pulp.

Tree #10  Locally called Mondonovo

 Botanical description:

This coffee is most likely the same as T5. But this coffee is more distinct by its crown even when observing it from afar. it is also distinct from its dark colour and reddish shoot tip of stems. The leaves are ovate and the leaf surface is corrugated. It is also observed that cherries ripen later than other trees. Ripe cherries are dark red to maroon color and round shape with thick pulp.

Recommendation:

Based on the result, from the 10 samples, only 2 were correct from the WCR genotyping. The following are recommended:

1. The result will be properly documented and forwarded to the Bureau of Plant and Industry regional office and at Benguet State University. These agencies are capable of informing or changing the names of coffee trees to the result of WCR.

2. The result will be further studied and reproduce in booklet or pamphlet form for farmer's reference. The tree samples will be documented from leaves, flowering, ripe cherries, and green beans.

3. The tree samples will be properly tag for farmers and tourists. The sample will be collectively distributed by spp in the farms.

4. The samples will be reproduced as true-to-type through nursery reproduction.

5. It is also recommended that all varieties of coffee will be genotype to collectively correct the names of the coffee in the source area. The correction o names will make the buyers confident of what they are marketing.

More details 

COFFEE GENOTYPING REPORT

July 29th, 2019

by World Coffee Research (WCR)