Genotypic diversity of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon identified through leaf morpho- and eco-physiological traits

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 324; p. 112603
• Main Authors: Santos, Millena Monteiro dos, Oliveira, Marcos Góes, Cassol, Daniela, Rodrigues, Weverton Pereira, Falqueto, Antelmo Ralph, Ramalho, José Cochicho, Partelli, Fábio Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-01-2024
• Subjects: Chlorophyll a fluorescence; Conilon coffee; Genetic variability; Leaf traits; OJIP-test; Chlorophyll a fluorescence; Conilon coffee; Genetic variability; Leaf traits; OJIP-test
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112603

•Genetic diversity evaluation based on morphophysiological traits and photosynthetic performance through multivariate analyses.•Wide study considering two annual seasons (winter and summer) and three diurnal periods to identify the most resilient materials.•Genetic diversity of coffea canephora is crucial to breeding programs.•Leaf traits correlated with the fluorescence (OJIP-test parameters) concerning the variability in the periods and diurnal times studied.
The knowledge about the genetic variability of a population is essential to increase the selection efficiency of promising genotypes to breeding programs. This study evaluated the genetic diversity among nine Coffea canephora genotypes based on leaf morphophysiological traits, e.g., dry mass (DM), leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and the relative water content (RWC%), as well as the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus, through PSII functioning and electron transport, performed in summer and winter in three periods of the day. Three distinct groups were formed based on chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlaF) parameters, demonstrating the heterogeneity of the genetic constitution of the evaluated population, what is quite relevant for the analysis of genetic divergence and breeding purposes, having the potential to identify superior genotypes. In summer and winter, the initial fluorescence (F0) tended to increase in the morning and noon, while the quantum yield of the primary photochemistry (ϕP0) increased in the afternoon. Leaf traits increased in the summer period in all groups. Group 1 showed more significant dissimilarity when compared to the others, with a higher mean of the most variable fluorescence parameters and a lower mean of the design index. The multivariate analyses showed that the leaf traits are correlated with the OJIP-test parameters concerning the variability in the periods and times studied. Our findings showed that the leaf traits can be adequately used to study genetic diversity in coffee. Additionally, ChlaF revealed to some extent some physiological differences among coffee genotypes associated with the two annual periods studied.