Genetic divergence based on leaf vegetative and anatomical traits of Coffea canephora clones

Abstract

Knowledge of the expression of traits associated with drought tolerance is important to mitigate impacts on coffee production in a climate change scenario. This study aimed to understand the genetic divergence between Coffea canephora genotypes grown in the Western Amazon based on leaf vegetative and anatomical traits. For this, fifteen high-performance genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design with five replications of one plant per plot to analyze three leaf vegetative traits (leaf area index, root volume, and total dry mass) and five leaf anatomical traits (polar and equatorial diameter, density and number of stomata, and stomatal area). The data were interpreted using analysis of variance and the Scott-Knott mean cluster test (p ≤ 0.05). The Tocher optimization method and principal component analysis with reference points were used to quantify the genetic divergence. Tocher clustering separated the fifteen clones into five groups, and the scatter in the plane into three groups. Stomatal density was the trait that most contributed to the dissimilarity between genotypes with the potential to be used in future studies for the selection of water deficit-tolerant genotypes. The BRS 3213 genotype showed the greatest genetic dissimilarity and composed a group isolated from the other genotypes in terms of anatomical characteristics. Hybrids 12 and 15 have leaf anatomical traits with higher drought tolerance potential.

Agronomic, anatomic and physiological characterization of Coffea arabica L. genotypes on irrigated system in the Central Cerrado

“…Overall, Coffea arabica proved to be a species with good adaptability regarding the environment in which it is grown, modifying anatomical structures of the leaves and physiological characteristics, resulting in mechanisms of adaptation to the Cerrado environment. There are evidences that environmental factors, such as radiation levels, water availability and temperature might cause anatomical, morphological and physiological modifications, therefore characterization of the genotypes is an important tool on the identification of the most adapted ones (Araújo et al, 2021;Baliza et al, 2012;Oliveira et al, 2018;Queiroz-Voltan et al, 2014;Zulfiqar et al, 2020).…”