Germplasm characterization of Coffea arabica L. accessions based on agronomic traits

Genetic resources embody the reservoir of essential natural variability for cultivated species breeding programs. The objective of this study was to select Arabica coffee accessions from the Minas Gerais Coffee Germplasm Collection grounded in agronomic traits. The productivity, quantified in bags per hectare, of 25 accessions was evaluated across four harvests, as was the percentage of maturation and floating beans. Genetic parameters were estimated for these attributes, aiming to glean insights into the potential for genetic gain and to facilitate decision-making in breeding practices. The REML/BLUP procedure was used to estimate variance components and predict random effects within the agronomic data. Genetic variability was observed among the studied accessions for productivity and the percentage of dried/pass fruits, indicating potential for genetic gain through selection within this group of accessions. There is potential for genetic breeding through selection, leading to subsequent enhancement in the means of the evaluated traits, notably in accessions MG0223 (Pacamara), MG0438 (Mundo Novo x S795 UFV 335-04), MG0194 (Caturra Amarelo Colombiano), MG0420 (Mundo Novo x S795 UFV 315-04), and MG0036 (Bourbon Amarelo). These results highlight the potential of these accessions to produce specialty coffees and their suitability for future breeding programs aimed at improving beans quality and productivity in Brazil.