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This study evaluated the genetic diversity of twenty-four Coffea arabica accessions being maintained at Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), Vietnam using 18 RAPD and 14 DAMD markers. RAPD markers produced a total of 171 loci with 151 loci (86.82%) were polymorphic while DAMD primers detected a total of 125 loci with 101 loci (80.11%) were polymorphic. The RAPD makers showed a higher PIC (0.31) and Rp (4.56) values than those of DAMD markers (0.24 and 3.12, respectively). The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.536 to 0.854 based on the pooled data. These results indicate a high genetic diversity among C. arabica accessions. Correlation analysis using Mantel's test indicated a moderate correlation (r = 0.544) between RAPD vs DAMD matrices, but a strong correlation between RAPD (r = 0.903)/DAMD (r = 0.860) and pooled data were obtained. PCA revealed the distribution of the 24 C. arabica accessions aligning with UPGMA categorised them into four distinct clusters. In general, coffee varieties belonging to the same geographic origin were grouped into distinct clusters. A high level of genetic diversity among C. arabica varieties could be used for crossing programmes to develop hybrid coffee accessions with the desired traits in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) application may affect the plant response to nitrogen (N), possibly by changing the uptake, concentration, and partitioning of nutrients in plant tissues; however, this has not yet been proven in Arabica coffee plants. The effects of Si application methods [no Si, soil-applied soluble Si (168 mg Si L−1), and foliar-applied soluble Si (two application of 2 mg Si plant−1)] and N levels (0 and 80 mg N L−1) on biomass production and partitioning and uptake, partitioning, and stoichiometry of nutrients and Si in young Arabica coffee plants grown under greenhouse conditions were evaluated. Nitrogen fertilization increased the biomass production and uptake of all nutrients; however, reduced the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, and Si in the leaves, Si in the stems, and K, Mg, and S in the roots of coffee plants as a dilution effect. In the presence of N, soil-applied Si increased the concentrations of Zn in the leaves and Ca and Si in the stems, the uptake of K, S, and Si, and the Si:N ratio. Foliar-applied Si increased the concentrations of N, P, K, and Zn in the leaves and Ca and Si in the stems, as well as the total uptake of K and Si and the Si:N ratio in coffee plants, being more evident in the N fertilization presence. This study unraveled that, especially when it was soil-applied, Si altered the nutrient uptake, allocation, and stoichiometric ratios with N, with a consequent increase in biomass production of young coffee plants fertilized with N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soxhlet extraction is a method recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) to determine the lipid content in plant samples. Generally, n-hexane (toxicity grade 5) is used as the solvent (≈300 mL; ≈30 g sample) at boiling temperatures (69 °C) for long times (≤16 h) under a chilled water reflux (≈90 L/h), proportionally aggravated by the number of repetitions and samples determined. In this sense, the technique is neither safe nor sustainable for the analyst or the environment. This article presents the development of an alternative and more sustainable procedure for determining the lipid content in raw Arabica coffee beans. A 33 full factorial design was used to perform direct hot solid–liquid extractions in 4 mL vials, varying the ground grains and solvent ratios, temperatures, and times. An optimal condition resulted in an extractive yield statistically equivalent to Soxhlet, without variation in the composition of the oil fatty acids determined by GC-MS after hole oil transesterification. This procedure was presented as a sustainable alternative to Soxhlet extraction because it does not require water for cooling and needs a smaller volume of solvent (2 mL) and sample mass (0.2 g); it also has a smaller generated residue, as well as requiring a shorter time (1.5 h) and less energy expenditure for extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligand fishing is a promising strategy for the screening of active ingredients from complex natural products. In this work, human tyrosinase (hTYR) was displayed on the surface of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for the first time; it was then used as bait to develop a new method for ligand fishing. The localization of hTYR on the CHO cell surface was verified by an enzyme activity test and fluorescence microscopy. The displayed tyrosinase (CHO@hTYR) maintained relatively stable enzymatic activity (82.59 ± 2.70%) within 7 days. Furthermore, it can be reused for fishing five times. Guided by the proposed ligand fishing method, four tyrosinase inhibitors, including 4-methoxy-5-methyl coumarin (1), cupressuflavone (2), amentoflavone (3), and 3,4-dimethoxy-5-methyl coumarin (4), were isolated from Alhagi sparsifolia, and the active fraction with low polarity was isolated from Coffea arabica; these two medicinal plants possess skin-lightening potential. All the isolated tyrosinase inhibitors significantly reduced the intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin level in B16 cells enhanced by α-MSH. Meanwhile, the active fraction (100 μg/mL) from C. arabica exhibited stronger inhibitory effects than the positive controls (α-arbutin and kojic acid) by recovering them to the normal levels. This work demonstrated the promising application of the cell surface display in the field of ligand fishing and is helpful in unveiling the chemical basis of the skin-lightening effect of A. sparsifolia and C. arabica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main diseases that affect coffee production worldwide are coffee leaf rust (CLR) and coffee berry disease (CBD), caused by fungi Hemileia vastatrix and Colletotrichum kahawae, respectively. The identification of cultivars with stacking resistance genes is of paramount importance for the control of these diseases. This work aimed to profile the phenotypic and genetic resistance of 160 genotypes belonging to 36 commercial coffee cultivars from five Central American countries regarding resistance to races II and XXXIII of H. vastatrix through phenotypic evaluation and evaluations associated with the genetic loci of resistance to CLR and CBD by molecular markers. Of the 160 genotypes from Central America evaluated, 26.25% presented genes stacked to the three loci of resistance to CLR and the locus of resistance to CBD, and resistance to races II and XXXIII when inoculated with urediniospores. In addition, 14 genotypes were identified with the presence of the SH3 gene, whose resistance has not yet been broken. This work revealed errors in passport data or hybridizations in cultivars and even possible resistance breakdown in the Catimor genetic group. These results are essential to the search for strategies in coffee genetic breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased market for specialty coffee and climate volatility in traditional coffee‐growing regions of the world has prompted interest in cultivating coffee outside of the tropics, including in California. While several small coffee farms have established in California over the past couple decade, no studies have identified and quantified climatically suitable regions for growing coffee. We developed a model of Coffea arabica suitability based on agronomic studies of thermal constraints to coffee cultivation, combining heat and cold intolerance with energy requirements for maturation. This model was applied to agricultural lands across California using high‐resolution climate datasets for both modern (1991–2020) and projected near‐term (2021–2050) conditions. We explored the potential for farm thermal management approaches—such as using agroforestry shade trees—to buffer temperature extremes and augment thermal suitability. Results indicate that, in the absence of thermal management approaches, nearly all agricultural lands in the state experience temperature extremes detrimental to coffee cultivation in modern climate. By contrast, we found that over 230 km2 of agricultural land in coastal southern and central California is thermally suitable for coffee with management efforts. These suitable areas include most of the state's avocado cultivation—which may serve as a thermal buffer for coffee and favour the environmental and economic agricultural sustainability of this coupled crop system. We additionally show that projected near‐term climate coupled with management efforts leads to moderate increases in thermally suitable agricultural lands for coffee cultivation. Despite numerous economic and logistical challenges, that impede the growth of a burgeoning coffee region in coastal, southern and central California, we demonstrate that climate conditions in both today and in the future, combined with agronomic management efforts such as shading, provide an opportunity for a viable coffee production in California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnO-NPs have been successfully produced and characterized using Coffea arabica extract using the green method. The successful formation of nanoparticles was indicated by a color change brown. Phytochemical characterization revealed that Coffea arabica extract is rich in bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics, which have significant antioxidant potential. The results of the antioxidant activity tests showed that increasing concentrations of Coffea arabica extract correlated with enhanced free radical scavenging activity, with a relatively low IC50 value, indicating this coffee extract can serve as an effective source of antioxidants. Histological assessment revealed damage to cell structures due to exposure to ZnO-NPs, including membrane dilation, epithelial layer damage, and signs of apoptosis and necrosis. The ZnO-NPs synthesized result from Coffea arabica extract showed possess larvicidal potential and beneficial antioxidant properties, however attention is needed regarding potential toxicity at certain concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root deformation at the time of pricking out is a well-recognized problem that interferes with coffee crop productivity. Considering that coffee cultivation under shade of agroforestry systems in the tropics is an important way of reconciling crop production and environmental services, we conducted an experiment to assess the effects of root deformation and light availability on growth and biomass allocation of Coffea arabica young plants. Seedlings of cultivar Catucaí Amarelo 24–137, without and with root deformation, were cultivated in pots for 110 days under daily light integral (DLI) of 20, 10, and 1 mol photons m−2 day−1 (corresponding to about 60%, 30% and 3% of full sunlight). Regardless of the light treatments, root deformations had unfavorable effects on plant growth. The relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) were severely affected by the lowest light availability (3% of full sunlight). Plants cultivated above 30% of full sunlight allocated more biomass to the roots, and plants cultivated under 3% of full sunlight allocated more biomass to the stems and leaves. The synergistic effect of light and root deformation negatively impacted RGR and the ratio between height and stem diameter (H/D). We demonstrated that errors in the pricking out process interfere with the biomass allocation, affecting the quality and growth performance of C. arabica seedlings at contrasting light availabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abiotic stresses significantly disrupt plant physiology at the molecular, biochemical, and morphological levels, often causing irreversible damage. To ensure sustainable coffee production, it is essential to understand how environmental stresses—such as drought, heat, excess light, and salinity—affect plant growth, and to develop strategies to mitigate their impact. Despite the limited number of studies on this topic, compiling existing knowledge can provide valuable insights into how coffee plants respond to such stresses. Specifically, understanding whether coffee plants can endure damage caused by these stresses and the mechanisms they employ to do so is critical. This review aims to (i) summarize key findings on the effects of drought, heat, excess light, and salinity on coffee plants and their coping mechanisms; and (ii) explore plant breeding and nutrition as potential strategies to mitigate these abiotic stresses and enhance coffee production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee quality, which ultimately is reflected in the beverage aroma, relies on several aspects requiring multiple approaches to check it, which can be expensive and/or time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and calibrate an electronic nose (e-nose) coupled with chemometrics to approach coffee-related quality tasks. Twelve different metal oxide sensors were employed in the e-nose construction. The tasks were (i) the separation of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora species, (ii) the distinction between roasting profiles (light, medium, and dark), and (iii) the separation of expired and non-expired coffees. Exploratory analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) pointed to a fair grouping of the tested samples according to their specification, indicating the potential of the volatiles in grouping the samples. Moreover, a supervised classification employing soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) led to great results with accuracy above 90% for every task. The performance of each model varies with the specific task, except for the LS-SVM models, which presented a perfect classification for all tasks. Therefore, combining the e-nose with distinct classification models could be used for multiple-purpose classification tasks for producers as a low-cost, rapid, and effective alternative for quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soxhlet extraction is a method recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) to determine the lipid content in plant samples. Generally, n-hexane (toxicity grade 5) is used as the solvent (≈300 mL; ≈30 g sample) at boiling temperatures (69 °C) for long times (≤16 h) under a chilled water reflux (≈90 L/h), proportionally aggravated by the number of repetitions and samples determined. In this sense, the technique is neither safe nor sustainable for the analyst or the environment. This article presents the development of an alternative and more sustainable procedure for determining the lipid content in raw Arabica coffee beans. A 33 full factorial design was used to perform direct hot solid–liquid extractions in 4 mL vials, varying the ground grains and solvent ratios, temperatures, and times. An optimal condition resulted in an extractive yield statistically equivalent to Soxhlet, without variation in the composition of the oil fatty acids determined by GC-MS after hole oil transesterification. This procedure was presented as a sustainable alternative to Soxhlet extraction because it does not require water for cooling and needs a smaller volume of solvent (2 mL) and sample mass (0.2 g); it also has a smaller generated residue, as well as requiring a shorter time (1.5 h) and less energy expenditure for extraction.

Coffee quality, which ultimately is reflected in the beverage aroma, relies on several aspects requiring multiple approaches to check it, which can be expensive and/or time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and calibrate an electronic nose (e-nose) coupled with chemometrics to approach coffee-related quality tasks. Twelve different metal oxide sensors were employed in the e-nose construction. The tasks were (i) the separation of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora species, (ii) the distinction between roasting profiles (light, medium, and dark), and (iii) the separation of expired and non-expired coffees. Exploratory analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) pointed to a fair grouping of the tested samples according to their specification, indicating the potential of the volatiles in grouping the samples. Moreover, a supervised classification employing soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) led to great results with accuracy above 90% for every task. The performance of each model varies with the specific task, except for the LS-SVM models, which presented a perfect classification for all tasks. Therefore, combining the e-nose with distinct classification models could be used for multiple-purpose classification tasks for producers as a low-cost, rapid, and effective alternative for quality assurance.

Coffee cultivation is important to Brazil's economy, positioning the country as a global leader in production and export. Given the complex environmental and management factors affecting yields, particularly due to climate change, there is a pressing need from farmers and dealers for more precise crop estimation models. This study aimed to refine and calibrate an agrometeorological model, originally developed by Santos and Camargo (2006) and later adapted by Verhage et al. (2017a), to estimate Arabica coffee yield in the main producing regions of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was also performed to identify the most influential model parameters and variables. Yield data from 28 coffee-producing locations (2003−2020) and meteorological data alongside irrigation use were employed. Following calibration and adaptation, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the model's response to variations in coffee plant parameters and environmental conditions. Local sensitivity analysis (LSA) focused on meteorological variables, while global sensitivity analysis (GSA) addressed coffee-related parameters. The adaptations proposed to the original model led to a significant refinement in the yield estimates, emphasizing the complex interactions between climatic variables and agricultural management practices. Key adaptations include the estimation of potential yield (Yp), the incorporation of temporal curves for root growth, leaf area index, available water capacity, and crop coefficient, as well as a water balance that accounts for irrigation and its effect on attenuating high canopy temperatures. Calibration improved the model's accuracy and precision, with the RMSE decreasing from 13.66 (819.6 kg ha−1; 1 bag ha−1 = 60 kg ha−1) to 8.65 (519.0 kg ha−1) bags ha−1, R2 improving from 0.62 to 0.65, d-index from 0.79 to 0.88, and NSE from 0.09 to 0.64. During the evaluation phase, with independent data, RMSE was 7.76 bags ha−1 (465.6 kg ha−1), d-index 0.85, and R2 0.55. Sensitivity analysis emphasized the importance of mean temperature and solar radiation on Yp, as well as the impact of irrigation practices and water deficit management under rainfed conditions. Additionally, factors specific to the coffee plant itself directly affect its yield. The findings underscore the importance of a multifactorial and adaptive approach to coffee cultivation, addressing the complexities and challenges posed by varying climatic conditions. This work offers valuable insights into optimizing coffee production, presenting the model as a tool for developing more resilient cultivation strategies and enhancing the sustainability of Brazilian Arabica coffee in future climate change scenarios. [Display omitted] • Adaptations made to the model allowed for a refinement in the yield estimates. • Calibration improved accuracy and precision of Arabica coffee yield estimation. • Local sensitivity analysis highlighted temperature, radiation and precipitation. • Global sensitivity analysis emphasized coffee parameters and their impact on yield. • Model captured coffee's biennial production and stable yields with irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees provide valuable pollination services by increasing crop yields. However, pollination services to crop quality – which often determines nutritional and financial value – have been less studied, particularly in tropical commodities such as coffee. Understanding how pollination affects coffee quality is critical because high-quality coffee on the specialty market fetches higher prices, which can potentially benefit farmers more than just focusing on yield alone. This study aimed to test the effects of bee pollination on coffee yield and quality and to evaluate possible trade-offs within them. We conducted bee-exclusion experiments on 30 coffee plants in the Tarrazú region of Costa Rica, controlling for several factors associated with coffee quality. At the end of the growing season, we harvested the berries and compared yield (that is, fruit set and weight) and quality (that is, the cup profiles of certified coffee tasters) among treatments. Our results indicate that bee pollination can lead to trade-offs in coffee production. Bee pollination significantly increased final fruit set by 9 % and the desired aroma scores by 2 %. However, these fruits weighed 7 % less than self-pollinated berries and displayed more body but less balance in their cup profiles. This is one of the first experimental studies to evaluate pollination services for coffee, considering not just yield but also its cup profile. We provide early evidence suggesting bee pollination improves coffee aroma, a critical quality attribute in specialty coffee. Our research emphasizes the importance of protecting or restoring bee habitats in coffee farms, which can not only improve income for coffee producers but also conserve biodiversity. Integrating these ecological insights into initiatives like 'bee-friendly' coffee production presents an innovative approach for stakeholders in the coffee supply chain and can serve as a strategic nexus of agricultural, economic, and ecological interests. [Display omitted] • Bee pollination not only increases coffee yields but also improves the quality of the roasted beans. • Bee-pollinated plants exhibited a 9 % higher fruit set and a 2 % enhancement in aroma and body, as assessed by professional cuppers, compared to self-pollinated plants. • Potential trade-offs exist: while aroma, body, and fruit set improve, the weight of the coffee berries is slightly reduced, and their balance scores in cupping decrease. • The importance of bees in coffee production expands beyond yield enhancement, as they also positively influence aroma—a crucial factor in the pricing of specialty coffee. • Protecting bee habitats on coffee farms can lead to better quality coffee and greater profits for farmers, while also contributing to biodiversity conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]