4d.Progress report.
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 E. Vega, ARS, Beltsville, MD, as the ARS cooperator. The objective of this cooperative research project is to identify quality markers in Coffea robusta genotypes in East Africa, based on genetic analyses combined with cup quality, chemical composition, and near infrared spectroscopy. The genetic studies in FY-2004 allowed to differentiate among wild genotypes from Kibale forest and Nganda and Erect genotypes. Nganda types were found to be very heterozygous, contradicting previous studies that considered it to be a wild type, with Erect as an introduced one. Nganda genotypes in these fields have been multiplied by seeds and thus, progenies could be the result of hybridization between wild and introduced species. Wild genotypes from forests will be evaluated as sources of gene flow. In 2005, additional materials were collected from farms in different districts and in the Coffee Research Institute fields as controls. Wild samples from Kibale and Itwara forests were also collected. To offset the loss of Tanzanian cooperation due to lack of staff, additional sampling in Uganda, close to the Tanzanian border, will take place. About 60 coffee bean samples will be studied during the remainder of 2005 for biochemical composition and DNA analyses, and 30 will be evaluated for cup tasting. As the sampling activity has been reduced, more emphasis will be placed on biochemical characterization, including aroma precursors. Although there were minor impacts this year, the results from this project will allow researchers to improve coffee breeding programs with emphasis on improved quality. Robusta coffees are important products for small and medium growers in East and Central Africa.