MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF “ROBUSTAS AMAZÔNICOS” (COFFEA CANEPHORA PIERRE) CLONES CULTIVATED AT RONDÔNIA STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

C. canephora clonal coffee farming is the newest source of foreign exchange for the state of Rondônia, in the Western Brazilian Amazon, to the point of receiving, in 2021, the designation of origin ‘Cafés das Matas de Rondônia’. Considering that there is little scientific information on “Robustas Amazônicos” coffees and on the genetic stability of commercial clones 08, 25, 88 and R-22, developed by rural producers, the present study proposed the use of morphological descriptors, which allow easy and quick discrimination between phenotypes. The characterized clones showed a high degree of intra- and interclonal phenotypic uniformity, showing that the selection process of the mother plants was satisfactory. Such uniformity suggests regular genetic stability, translated by the viability of meiosis products. Minimum efficient descriptors were identified for use in the discrimination and possible legal protection of “Robustas Amazônicos” cultivars of C. canephora.