Caffeine and chlorogenic acid content of Coffea canephora cultivars in different environments

Abstract

Coffee plants of the Coffea canephora species are currently grown in tropical regions throughout the world, and both greater yield efficiency and greater beverage quality are important considerations. The aim of this study is to characterize the content of caffeine and of chlorogenic acids of C. canephora cultivars in different environments. According to the maturation cycle of each clone, samples of cherry coffee were collected from ten cultivars evaluated in the environments of Porto Velho, RO, Ouro Preto do Oeste, RO and Manaus, AM. These environments with contrasting characteristics represent most of the coffee fields established in the Am and Aw climate types in Latossolos Vermelhos and Latossolos Amarelos, typical of the Western Amazon. The results were analyzed considering the factorial design to quantify the effects of genotypes, of environments, and of the genotype × environment interaction (GE) on the caffeine and chlorogenic acid contents. Regardless the significant GE effects, the caffeine and chlorogenic acid content exhibited predominantly genetic control. In comparison to the caffeine, the chlorogenic acid content was more affected by the environment effects, displaying more variations in the genotypes performance across the environments. The significant positive association between the caffeine and chlorogenic acid contents favors the selection of plants that simultaneously have greater or lower contents of both traits. The selection of clone BRS3210 resulted in a selection gain of 14.99% in caffeine content, while the cultivation of the clone BRS3193 yielded a selection gain of 10.81% in chlorogenic acid content. The selection of clone BRS2299 resulted in a reduction of 21.85% in caffeine content and of 9.15% in chlorogenic acid content.