VEGETATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE ASPECTS OF ARABICA COFFEE GENOTYPES IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMIARID REGION

The emergence of new commercial varieties of cultivated plants is important for strengthening several aspects of agriculture. Comparative information and data on the behavior of traditional and modern coffee varieties must be passed on to producers to make gains in the sustainability of agro-ecosystems and the promotion of rural development. This study investigated genotypes of Coffea arabica during the years 2018 and 2020 in order to characterize cultivation under the altitude and soil conditions of the municipality of Areia, Paraíba, due to the potential for growing coffee for sustainable development of the rural population and regional economy. The biometric and productive performance of 21 coffee genotypes, including four traditional varieties from Brazil, were investigated in a completely randomized block design, with three replications, using nine growth and production variables. High yields of coffee bags per hectare were found. Among the studied genotypes, T21 I, T5II, T1 I, T15 I and Campos Altos stood out in the first year, although without significant differences in most of the studied attributes. Cluster analysis separated the genotypes into five main groups, which are widely distinguished by phenology. The genotypes T5 II, T15 I and T21 I showed superiority in relation to the others in the second year of cultivation, demonstrating promising agronomic characteristics and potential viability for coffee cultivation in the region of Paraíba, Brazil. This study enriches coffee research in Northeast Brazil and provides new insights for future decision making.