Genetic Diversity and Agronomic Performance of Coffee Genotypes in Organic Agroforestry Systems of São Tomé
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25186/.v21i.2473Abstract
Despite coffee’s historical and economic importance in São Tomé and Príncipe, limited knowledge of its molecular and morpho-agronomic diversity has constrained effective breeding programs. As part of a farmer-oriented technical assistance initiative, ten coffee (Coffea spp.) accessions were collected across São Tomé Island and evaluated using morphological and molecular markers. The experiment, conducted from August 2023 to March 2025 at the Centre for Agronomic and Technological Research, followed a randomized block design. Morpho-agronomic characterization revealed notable phenotypic variation among accessions. Orange fruit color (60.8%), elliptical fruit shape (44.5%), and green endosperm color (73.5%) were predominant. Among genotypes, Catuai showed the highest average fresh fruit mass (1.9 ± 0.2 g), transverse diameter (12.6 ± 0.8 mm), longitudinal diameter (17.4 ± 0.8 mm), and seed fresh mass (1.0 ± 0.2 g). In nursery evaluations, Típica exhibited the greatest plant height (12.9 ± 3.5 cm) and stem diameter (1.7 ± 0.3 mm), while Bourbon vermelho had the highest leaf number (2.7 ± 0.8). Leaf morphology differentiated varieties: Bourbon vermelho, Catimor, Catuai, Caturra, Mundo Novo, and Tecsik were mainly elliptical; Icatu and Típica lanceolate; and Robusta and Bourbon Amarelo oval. Preliminary molecular analysis identified two genetic clusters and suggested the existence of a potentially novel Coffea arabica variety within the São Tomé population. These findings provide the first integrative assessment of coffee diversity on the island, laying a foundation for future genetic improvement, germplasm conservation, and sustainable agroforestry-based coffee production in São Tomé.
Key words: Coffea spp.; morpho-agronomic characterization; molecular diversity; genetic clustering.
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