The objective of this study was to characterize 21 accessions of various botanical forms of existing coffee in the Active Germplasm Bank of the State of Minas Gerais, in order to identify genotypes with potential for use in breeding programs. In the field trial, each access is represented by 20 plants, in randomized complete block design with two replications. Coffee plants were evaluated at 30 months after planting, according to productivity, vegetative vigor and the main standard descriptors for the protection of plant varieties of coffee in Brazil. The results show an important genetic variability among accessions showing the possibility of their use in breeding programs. The Pacamara access had higher productivity in the first year, while in the second year, stood accesses Catuaí Erecta and Semperflorens. The standard descriptors used for the protection of plant varieties of coffee proved to be an efficient tool for the characterization and differentiation of germplasm studied.
Coffea arabica; coffee breeding; variability; genetic resources
