ABSTRACT
The species Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner is geographically widely distributed, occurring in the tropical regions of several continents. Cultivation of the species accounts for approximately 30% of coffee production in Brazil, with the state of Rondonia being the second largest producer. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters in the selection of clones of the 'Conilon' variety of C. canephora, seeking to characterise genetic variability and estimate genetic gain in the productivity of processed coffee. Analysis of variance of the production of processed coffee demonstrated that, according to F-test at a level of 1%, the source of variation, clones, was significant in the crops being evaluated. A predominance of the genetic component in the expression of this characteristic, together with good experimental precision, indicates the possibility of obtaining gains from plant selection. Genetic gain in the production of processed coffee from the planting of selected clones was 57.85%, which is equal to an average increase over four years of from 44.75 bags ha-1 to 70.64 bags ha-1. Aside from the increase in grain productivity, selecting clones with an intermediate cycle contributes to concentrating the harvest and reducing operating costs.
Key words:
Coffea canephora; Genotypic selection; Genetic parameters
