Endocarp removal and Trichoderma (Trichoderma spp.) application improved seed germination and seedling growth of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Issue Date

7-2018

Abstract

The presence of endocarp usually results in physical dormancy in coffee, hence, an experiment was conducted from November 2015 to February 2016 in Los Baños, Laguna [Philippines] to determine the effects of genotype, endocarp removal, and Trichoderma (Bio-Quick) application on seed germination and seedling growth of coffee. Two Arabica genotypes (Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon) were subjected to five seed sowing treatments: (1) naked seed -- endocarp manually removed; (2) parchment seed -- endocarp intact; (3) parchment seed + Trichoderma, (4) starch paste-coated parchment seed + Trichoderma, and (5) parchment seed sown in Trichoderma-soil mix. While the two varieties have comparable germination percentage across treatments, results showed that yellow Bourbon reached the butterfly stage 10 days earlier, but Red Bourbon produced longer seedlings with more profuse roots and with better survival rate. Manual removal of the endocarp resulted in higher germination percentage and advanced the attainment of matchstick and butterfly seedling stages by 3 weeks and 1-2 weeks, respectively, relative to seeds with intact endocarp (Treatment 2). While all treatments involving Trichoderma (Treatments 3-5) were not as effective as endocarp removal in increasing germination percentage, these treatments were effective in substantially enhancing seedling growth in terms of shoot length, rooting intensity, and in improving seedling survival rate. The results of the experiment suggest that endocarp removal is principally suitable for small-scale seedling production, but its tedious process makes Trichoderma treatments more applicable for large-scale seedling production.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463X

Volume

43

Issue

Supplement no. 1

Page

68

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Subject

Coffee; Germination

En – AGROVOC descriptors

COFFEA ARABICA; GERMINATION; SEEDS; SEEDLINGS; GROWTH; TRICHODERMA; SPECIES

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS