Agronomic performance of new arabica coffee cultivars in irrigated cultivation systems

The agronomic performance of Coffea arabica cultivars can vary depending on the production region, cultivation system, and adopted technologies. The Cerrado of Minas Gerais stands out in both the Brazilian and global coffee sectors for its high productivity and bean quality, supported by widespread mechanization and irrigation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of new C. arabica cultivars—focusing on productivity, yield, and grain size—under irrigated cultivation in the Cerrado, with the goal of identifying cultivars with superior adaptation and performance under controlled water management. Ten cultivars were assessed, including eight rust-resistant cultivars (Catiguá MG2, MGS Ametista, MGS Aranãs, MGS Paraíso 2, Paraíso MG H419-1, Pau Brasil MG1, MGS Catucaí Pioneira, and Sarchimor MG8840) and two rust-susceptible standards widely used in the region (Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 and Topázio MG 1190). Evaluated traits included productivity, yield, and bean size (granulometry). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to explore correlations and cultivar clustering. Sarchimor MG8840, MGS Catucaí Pioneira, Topázio MG1190, and Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 exhibited superior productivity and favorable bean size profiles, indicating good adaptation to irrigated conditions. In contrast, Paraíso MG H419-1 and Pau Brasil MG1 had smaller bean sizes. Uniform water availability throughout the crop cycle minimized yield differences, highlighting the role of controlled irrigation in optimizing coffee productivity. These findings contribute to informed cultivar selection for irrigated coffee systems in the Cerrado region.