The Bean Quality of Arabica Coffee ( <i>Coffea arabica</i> ) Seed Seems to Be Determined at Early Stage of Development and Is Related to Differences in <scp>d</scp> -Ribose and <scp>d</scp> -Fructose
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The influence of chemical compounds in coffee seeds on flavor and aroma precursors in raw beans remains poorly understood in specialty coffee cultivars. This study analyzed the variation of carbohydrates, such as reducing sugars, sucrose, starch, and total sugars, and identified differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) at different developmental stages of Coffea arabica fruits, employing cultivars with specialty sensory quality. Biochemical analyses revealed significant cultivar- and developmental stage-dependent differences in carbohydrate metabolism and flavor precursor accumulation. A total of 27 metabolites were identified, with the highest number of DAMs observed at 30 days after flowering (DAF), the most distinct stage according to PLS-DA analysis. Similar D-ribose and D-fructose levels were observed in MGS Paraíso 2 and Geisha, contrasting with MGS Catiguá 3 at 30 DAF. Metabolite profiling also revealed differences in compounds associated with glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, pathways involved in synthesizing precursors related to coffee bean quality.
Authors
- Antônio Chalfun-Júnior (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1794-9429)
- Raphael Ricon de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3971-0021)
- Robert Márquez Gutiérrez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1829-4118)
- Flávia Maria Avelar Gonçalves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4652-1824)
- Marcelo Ribeiro Malta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0683-1078)
- Thales Henrique Cherubino Ribeiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2675-7004)
- Gabriela Ester Ferraz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1572-8999)
- Gladyston Rodrigues Carvalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4466-674X)
- Renato Ribeiro de Lima
- Taís Teixeira das Neves
- Marili Galvino Santos
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Lavras (BR)
- University of California System (US)
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (BR)
- Institute of Plant Biology (HU)
- Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (BR)
- New York Genome Center (US)
- Institute of Natural Science (KP)
- Institut des Sciences des Plantes de Montpellier (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Food Science & Technology
- Published
- 2026-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.6c00379
- Primary Topic
- Coffee research and impacts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais