Evaluation of f4rc1 progenies of (Caturra x Coffea canephora) x Caturra. Evaluación de progenies f4rc1 de (Caturra x Coffea canephora) x Caturra.

In  order  to  obtain  lines  resistant  to  coffee  rust  (Hemileia  vastatrix),  45  F4RC1  progenies  (Caturra  X  C. canephora) x Caturra were evaluated. Caturra and San Bernardo varieties were used as susceptible control and  Castillo ®  variety  was  used  as  resistant  control.  Rust  resistance,  plant  height,  frequency  of  empty  beans  and  peaberries,  bean  size,  and  production  were  evaluated  for  four  years.  Thirty-eight  progenies  were  resistant  to  rust  (mode  and  median  equals  0).  The  height  of  the  progenies  was  statistically  equal  to  that  of  Castillo ® variety. The analysis of variance for empty beans was highly significant, but only one progeny  had  higher  percentage  than  Castillo ®  variety.  The  analysis  of  variance  and  the  Dunnett  test  for  peaberries  showed  differences  and  18  progenies  had  higher  peaberries  than  the  Castillo ®  variety.  Such  progenies have not fully recovered fertility. Twenty-five progenies showed grain size significantly equal to Castillo ® variety. The analyses of variance for the production per year and for the average of the four years were highly significant, but there were no differences in the progenies compared to Castillo ®  variety.  In  conclusion,  the  genetic  base  of  C.  arabica,  especially  the  resistance  to  rust,  has  been  increased  and  there  are  7  selected  resistant  progenies,  which  have  an  average  height  of  153  cm  at  24  months,  empty  beans  of  5,1%,  peaberries  of  11.2%,  bean  size  of  72%  of  supreme  coffee  and  yearly  production  of  2.5  kg/plant  of  parchment  coffee,  which  originate  lines  for  evaluation  in  regional  trials.