Summary

The objective of this project, defined through consultation with the Australian Subtropical Coffee Association, is to identify, procure and evaluate new Arabica coffee varieties for the Australian subtropical coffee industry. The dominant coffee variety grown by the Australian subtropical coffee industry, K7, has proven to be excessively vigorous and this threatens the viability of the industry. This project will source and evaluate new Arabica coffee varieties which are of high quality, high yielding, rust resistant and on maturity reach a physical size that is suitable for machine harvesting without the need for pruning.
The project goals will be met by: defining the traits which are priorities for the Australian subtropical coffee industry; sourcing coffee varieties internationally and locally which conform to the ideal trait list; importation of international varieties through the Southern Cross University quarantine facility; and establishment of the local and imported coffee germplasm at trial sites which are representative of the Australian subtropical coffee industry.
The Australian Subtropical Coffee Association will be a key participant in the project, defining the research priorities. Because of this close collaboration, data generated by the project and the project outcomes will be of relevance to the Australian coffee industry.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

Southern Cross University

Objective Summary

The objective of this project, defined through consultation with the Australian Subtropical Coffee Association, is to identify and evaluate for the Australian subtropical coffee industry new high quality, high yielding, rust resistant Arabica coffee varieties suitable for machine harvesting. The variety K7 is the dominant coffee variety grown by the Australian subtropical coffee industry. K7 produces high quality beans, is high yielding and rust resistant. However, K7 has proven to be too vigorous when grown within the Australian subtropical environment. The excess vigour of K7 represents a serious challenge which threatens the viability of the industry.
The key outcome of this project will be provision of new Arabica coffee varieties to the Australian subtropical coffee industry which are high quality, high yielding, rust resistant and on maturity reach a physical size that is suitable for machine harvesting without the need for pruning.