4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement between ARS and the World Agro-Forestry Center (ICRAF), with Dr. Fabrice Pinard of ICRAF as P.I., and Dr. Fernando Vega, ARS, Beltsville, MD, as the ARS cooperator. The objective of this cooperative research project is to detect a link between the DNA characterization of Robusta genotypes of coffee in East Africa (Uganda & Tanzania) and the quality produced in terms of chemical content and cup testing. This activity is developed as a means to:.
1)assess and characterize the genetic diversity of Robusta coffee in East Africa;.
2)detect higher quality Robusta coffee in the region;.
3)characterize genotypes ( DNA characterization related to NIRS analyses, biochemical content and cup testing); and.
4)promote coffee quality in East Africa.

The project is based on three main activities:

1. A farm survey in Ugandan coffee growing area and its extension in Kagera region in Tanzania to collect leaves for DNA analysis and collect beans for quality assessment

2. DNA studies, through SSR technology

3. Coffee quality study through biochemical analysis, cup testing and NIRS (Near Infra Red Spectrophotometry) characterization

This study is carried out in an international partnership with the Coffee Research Institute in Uganda (CORI) and the Tanzanian Coffee Research Institute (TACRI) for the implementation of the survey, DNA studies and quality assessment. In addition, the partnership includes CIRAD (Centre International de Recherche en Agronomie pour le Développement) for the work on coffee DNA and quality, with ICRAF's role as one of overall coordination. The project was initiated in November 2003 with a field survey in Uganda to collect "true type" Nganda and Erect Robusta varieties - the 2 known genotypes present in the region - and their natural hybrids grown at farm level. Coffee beans and cuttings were then sampled, with beans prepared for drying in a standard protocol and cuttings planted to root to later produce leaves for DNA extraction. In March 2004, a NIRS specialist and a breeder from CIRAD visited CORI to assess the material collected in November 2003, collect missing material if required and prepare the transfer of this material to CIRAD, Montpellier, France, where it has been under evaluation since May 2004. 92 leaf samples were prepared for DNA extraction and 108 bean samples were prepared for NIRS / chemical analysis. In April 2004, Mrs Pauline Aluka, a CORI breeder, flew to Montpellier for a period of 6 months of training in molecular biology techniques and quality assessment protocols. She also had an additional training course in modern genetics at Wageningen University in May. She will characterize the collected plant material in Montpellier; it is expected that this work should constitute her Ph.D. thesis at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. For the months of July, August and September 2004, the characterization of the material continued (DNA, NIRS and cup testing).