Coffee breeding assisted by somaclonal variation: case of 'Bourbon LC' variety
Somaclonal variation is the expression of the naturally occurring variability of plant cells, or the result of in vitro induced variation of cells following plant regeneration. Somaclonal variation is an excellent method for shortening breeding programmes, since it can provide access to genetic variability within existing cultivars. With the availability of alternative sources of natural variability and a strong consumer demand for quality coffee, attention has being directed to breed for new coffeevarieties with enhanced aroma and taste. Green coffee quality is determined by genetics, environment and processing and so, there is an opportunity to develop new varieties with superior cup quality traits. Laurina is a natural mutation from Red Bourbon plants found in Reunion Island by mid-1800's and cultivated with success due to its drought tolerance and superior beverage properties. Laurina plants have small leaves, thin lateral branches, short-stature, elongated fruits and beans and it has being referred in the literature as "Laurina", "Leroy", "Bourbon Pointu" and "Smyrna" coffee. A total of 800 Laurina somaclones were raised to maturity under normal coffee growing conditions in Brazil and superior plants were selected based on vigour, yield and reduced caffeine content. Second and third generations of selected Laurina somaclone lines were evaluated in experimental plots in different coffee farms in Brazil leading to the scale-up of new coffee variety called 'Bourbon LC'. Bourbon LC has a mild/sweet beverage type and has a 50 percent natural reduced caffeine level (0.6 percent vs. 1.2 percent). Bourbon LC is a new coffee variety that resulted from natural somatic variation of C. arabica cv. Laurina, isolated from a somaclonal variation programme, followed by standard breeding methods.
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| Format: | biblioteca |
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Trieste (Italia) ASIC
2001
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| Subjects: | COFFEA ARABICA, FITOMEJORAMIENTO, CAFEINA, VARIACION CLONAL, CAFE, CALIDAD, RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS, VARIEDADES, VARIACION GENETICA, CULTIVO IN VITRO, VARIACION SOMACLONAL, CULTIVO DE TEJIDOS, VIGOR, BRASIL, |
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