The Characterization and Quality of 14 Accessions of Robusta Coffee

Indonesian Industrial and Beverages Crops Research Institute, Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: budimartono@hotmail.com

Abstract

To produce superior varieties, gene sources of high diversity are needed. The study was intended to reveal the diversity of qualitative and quantitative characters and the quality of Robusta coffee germplasm. The study conducted at Pakuwon Experimental Garden, Sukabumi Indonesia, used 14 accessions of Robusta coffee grown by a single stem system. The observed characteristics were qualitative and quantitative characteristics, caffeine content, and cup quality. The data were analyzed descriptively and grouped by cluster analysis using the PBSTAT program. The results revealed variations in the angle of insertion of primary branches, stipule shape, immature leaf color, leaf shape, leaf apex shape, young shoot color, mature leaf color, ripe fruit color, and fruit shape. The number of bunches/branch is the characteristic of the highest variation coefficient. Eleven accessions had cupping scores between 80 and 86 with a caffeine content of 1.39 - 2.06%. The accession B4-17-1 had the lowest yield, but its final cupping test score was the highest. At the dissimilarity coefficient of 0.25, 14 accessions of Robusta coffee are divided into two large groups, while at the dissimilarity coefficient of 0.15 they consist of four groups.