The arabic coffee (Coffea arabica L.) takes two years to complete the entire phenological cycle of the frutification, unlike most of the other crops, that complete the reproductive cycle in one year. Six different phenological phases, taking a total of two years, are proposed, starting in September of each year. The phases are: 1st phase: vegetative, with seven months, September to March, with long days; 2nd phase: also vegetative, April to August, with short days, when occurs the transformation of the vegetative buds of the knots formed in the 1st phase to reproductive buds. At the end of this phase, July and August, the plants enter in relative dormancy with formation of one or two small pair of leaves, that usually do not flourish. The maturation of the reproductive buds comes after the accumulation of about 350 mm of potential evapotranspiration (ETp), starting by the beginning of April; 3rd phase: flowering and grain expansion, September to December. Usually the flowering happens about 8 to 15 days after the increase of the water potential inside the floral buds caused by rain or irrigation; 4th phase: grain formation, January to March; 5th phase: grain maturation, when about 700 mm of ETp accumulates since the main flowering; 6th phase: senescence and death of the non-primary productive branches, in July and August.
Coffea arabica L.; climate; phenology; bud maturation; grain maturation
