Número de cromossomos em Coffea racemosa Lour

Abstract

Coffea racemosa is a species that has potencial value for breeding purpose due to the high flavor and low caffeine content of the beverage that is brewed with its seeds. In order to investigate the possibilities of crossing Coffea racemosa with other species of this genus, it was thought of interest to determine its chromosome number. Using a routine technique adopted in the Cytology Department of the Instituto Agronômico, determinations of chromosome numbers were made in root tip of this species. C. racemosa was found to have 2n=22. It is suggested that hybridization of Coffea racemosa with other diploid species of the genus will probably be easy, but in order to cross it with C. arabica (2n=44) and obtain viable types it might be necessary to duplicate first the chromosome number of C. racemosa or that of the F1 hybrid arabica x racemosa in case such an F1 can be obtained.