developed by L.P.Kents of Doddangudda and Kalagnee estates in Mudigree zone was cultivated during 1918-1920. It is resistant to races II and VII of leaf rust. Leaves are larger than 'coorgs' , dark green and thick. Apical leaves are dark bronze. Fruits are red. Beans are bold, oblong and larger than those of 'coorg'.
'Kents attracted the attention of the coffee growers in India. The strain was also introduced in certain African countries. This is high yielding , capable of withstanding higher temperatures and tolerant to leaf-miner. many strains are susceptible to the die-back disease (stem-pitting). It has higher resistance to this disease than 'Bourbon'. 'Kents' has lower keeping quality. It is being cultivated in India because of judicial spraying and periodical pruning.
'S.288'. Released in 1938, it is the first-generation progeny of 's.26', a hybrid from Doobla estate (Western Karnataka). Its fruits are round and oblong, coated, blue to grey. its liquoring quality is like normal arabica. 75% of the plants are resistant to races I and II of the coffee rust.
'S.947'. This variety(in the second generation) has been found to be homozygous for resistance to races I and II of the coffee-rust. It is preferred in Mudigere and Saklaspur zones.
'S.333'. It is the first filial generation (F1) of a cross between S.31 and S.22. Plants are vigorous and spreading. Fruits are bold-medium , round to oblong. About 10 % of the seedlings may show temporary chlorosis(absence of chlorophyll in the leaves) in the second or third pair of leaves. About 75 % of the plants are resistant to races I and II of the leaf rust.
'S.795'. Released in 1946, it is the F2 of S.288 of 'kents arabica'. Some plants are initially semi-erect but droop as they grow.
Fruits are oblong with a small to broad navel flush and sometimes with persistant calyx. Beans are bold, larger than of 'S.288' and are coated or bluish grey.
'S.1934'. (F4 of S.288 of 'kents arabica') was established in 1960-61. They have fruits and seed characters similar to those of kents. The rest of the characters are like 'S.795'. They have a lower triage (false polyembryony). Yields are satisfactory.
ROBUSTA. Coffee canephora Pierre ex Horn (2n=22) is a bigger tree than arabica, with broader and larger leaves. Leaves are pale green, flowers are white and frogarant.They are borne in large clusters than those of arabica. Berries are small, but per node they are more numerous varying from 40-60 or more.
Under the soil and climatic conditions of south India the buds appear during Nov to feb. Rains in Feb-Mar are ideal for blossoming. The flowers open on seventh or eighth day after rains. Unlike arabica, Robusta is self-sterile and hence it is cross-pollinated. The fruits mature in 10-11 months. They are harvested 2 mths after arabica.
TREE COFFEE. Coffee liberica Bull ex Hiern (2n=22) is a large tree bearing broad, dark green, leathery leaves 2-3 times larger than those of arabica.
CROSSES. Cioccie and Agaro crossbred seperately with 'S.1934' give good yields.
Devamachy of S.881 arabica is a spontaneous C. canephora of C.arabica spotted in a private estate in Coorg. S.881 is a collection from Rume Sudan and was established at the Central Coffee Research Institute in 1944. The parent plant in Devamachy is an intermediate plant with higher resistance to rust. beans are uniformly small. The liquoring quality is of arabica type.
'S.274'. robusta of 'Kents' arabica. Seeds from the selected F2 progeny of BC2 with arabica given for trial show variation from arabica to intermediate type of plants. The progeny shows an early floral phase like robusta and spreading habit like arabica. The pulp is like arabica or robusta. the bean size is variable , it is thicker as in robusta . It is mostly coated , grey, green or a mixture of the two.
Dwarf hybrids (San Ramon hybrids). established in Brasil, it has compact internodes. Seeds obtained from a cross between dwarf of s.795 of Agaro are being tried in the field. The progenies from the dwarf hybrids produce 70% dwarfs . Dwarfs of San Ramon x s.795 x Agaro , Cioccie produced dwarfs of larger size and erect branches giving an open type of plant habit. They are drought resistant and yield good crops.
Hibrido de Timor. is a spontaneous cross of robusta x arabica from Timor supplied by the Coffee Rust research centre, portugal. Very few plants are susceptible to races XXII,XXV,XXVI. The progenies show a high variation in morphological characters.
Planting. The soil used for raising seedlings should be rich in organic matter, free from nematodes, cockchafer larvae and wireworms. Farmyard manure, sand and lime are also important ingredients of the soil.
The seed is treated evenly with Agrosan at 20 kg per forlit before sowing. This protects the soil against fungal infection during germination.
A seedbed raised to a height of 15 cm, usually about 1 metre in width and of convenient length is prepared. Four baskets of fully decomposed cattle manure or compost, about 2 kg of finely sieved lime and 400 g of rock phosphate are incorporated into a bed 1mx6m. If heavy soils are used it is necessary to add coarse sand to facilitate drainage and aeration.
Seeds should be sown in December or January. the seeds are placed on the soil surface 1.5-2.5 cm apart in regular rows. A thin layer of fine soil is used to cover them. The bed is then covered with about 5cm of paddy straw to ensure an even temperature and prevent the soil surface from drying. The beds are watered daily and protected from sunlight by an overhead pandal. The seeds germinate in 45 days.
PLANTING IN THE FIELD. Disease-free and vigorous seedlings are selected for planting. Rooted plants 16-18 months old , with and without balls are planted during June and the ball and bag plants are generally planted from September to October. The seedling is placed in a hole made in the pit, with its tap root and lateral roots spread out properly. The hole is then filled with soil. The seedlings are provided with cross-stakes to prevent damage from winds.
Ball and bag seedlings are planted towards the end of the monsoon rains and with the commencement of north-eastern rains i.e. in september. First the bottom portion of the bag is cut and the tap root nipped. The seedling is gently removed from the bag and placed into the hole. The hole is covered with soil and the plant is firmly fixed.
PLANTING SHADE TREES. Dadap is commonly used as a lower canopy shade tree. 2 metres long stakes are fixed for every 2 plants of coffee. Silver oak and dadap are planted during june when the rains commence. During the dry season the stems of the young dadap are either painted with a dilute solution or wrapped up in agave leaves to protect them from sun-scorch.
After care
1.The clearing should be well fenced to prevent damage to coffee and dadap from stray cattle.
2. The plants should be protected against cockchaffer attack during the first 2 years by applying Lindane or granular insecticides around the seedlings.
3. Weeds should be eradicated in the very first year.
4. the soil around the seedlings should be properly mulched and the plants provided with shade.
5. No manure needs to be applied till may-june of the following year. Sprinkler irrigation may be given.
6.It is advisable to spray a Bordeaux mixture along with urea and potash during december to protect against pests and disease.
7. A manurial schedule should be followed from the second year onwards.
8. Plant protection measure should be adopted meticulously.
