☕ Coffee (Coffea spp.)
1. Introduction
| Particular | Answer |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora (Robusta), Coffea liberica |
| Family | Rubiaceae ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Chromosome Number | Arabica: 2n = 44; Robusta: 2n = 22 |
| Economic Part | Seeds (Coffee Beans) ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pollination | Arabica – Mostly Self-pollinated; Robusta – Cross-pollinated |
| Propagation | Seeds |
| Economic Life | 30–40 years |
2. Origin
| Particular | Answer |
|---|---|
| Arabica | Ethiopia (Abyssinia) ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Robusta | Central Africa (Congo Basin) |
| Introduced in India | By Baba Budan (17th Century) ⭐⭐⭐ |
3. Important Species
| Species | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Coffea arabica ⭐⭐⭐ | Best quality, mild flavour, self-pollinated |
| Coffea canephora (Robusta) ⭐⭐⭐ | High yield, disease resistant, cross-pollinated |
| Coffea liberica | Large leaves and fruits |
4. Climate
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical |
| Temperature | 18–24°C (Arabica); 22–30°C (Robusta) |
| Rainfall | 1500–2500 mm |
| Altitude | Arabica: 1000–1500 m; Robusta: 500–1000 m |
| Frost | Harmful |
5. Soil
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Soil Type | Deep, well-drained loamy soil |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Organic Matter | High |
6. Planting
| Particular | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Planting Season | June–July |
| Spacing (Arabica) | 2 × 2 m |
| Spacing (Robusta) | 2.5 × 2.5 m |
| Propagation | Seedlings |
9. Irrigation
| Particular | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best Method | Drip/Sprinkler |
| Critical Stage | Flowering & Berry Development |
| Blossom Irrigation | Given before flowering ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Backing Irrigation | Given after flowering ⭐⭐⭐ |
10. Shade Trees
Coffee is a shade-loving crop.
| Tree | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Silver Oak ⭐⭐⭐ | Grevillea robusta |
| Dadap | Erythrina lithosperma |
| Albizia | Albizia lebbeck |
11. Training & Pruning
| Practice | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Topping | Controls height |
| Pruning | Improves yield |
| Handling | Removes unwanted shoots |
12. Major Diseases
| Disease | Causal Organism |
|---|---|
| Coffee Leaf Rust ⭐⭐⭐ | Hemileia vastatrix |
| Black Rot | Corticium koleroga |
| Berry Disease | Colletotrichum kahawae |
| Root Rot | Rosellinia spp. |
13. Major Insect Pests
| Pest | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| White Stem Borer ⭐⭐⭐ | Xylotrechus quadripes |
| Coffee Berry Borer ⭐⭐⭐ | Hypothenemus hampei |
| Mealybug | Planococcus citri |
| Scale Insect | Various spp. |
14. Harvesting
| Particular | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Bearing Starts | 3–4 years |
| Harvesting Season | November–February |
| Harvesting Method | Hand picking of ripe berries |
15. Processing
Harvesting
↓
Drying
↓
Hulling
↓
Grading
Harvesting
↓
Pulping
↓
Fermentation
↓
Washing
↓
Drying
↓
Hulling
16. Important Varieties
| Variety | Feature |
|---|---|
| Selection 5B | Popular |
| Selection 9 | High yield |
| Chandragiri ⭐⭐⭐ | Leaf rust resistant |
| Cauvery (Catimor) | High yielding |
| Variety | Feature |
|---|---|
| CxR | Hybrid |
| Selection 274 | Commercial |
| Sln 795 | Widely cultivated |
17. Important Research Institutes
| Institute | Location |
|---|---|
| Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) ⭐⭐⭐ | Balehonnur, Karnataka |
| Coffee Board of India ⭐⭐⭐ | Bengaluru |
18. India & World Production
| Particular | Answer |
|---|---|
| Largest Producer | Brazil ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Second Largest | Vietnam |
| Largest Producer in India | Karnataka ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Other Major States | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
19. Important Crop Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cherry Coffee | Dry processed coffee |
| Parchment Coffee | Wet processed coffee |
| Blossom Irrigation | Irrigation before flowering |
| Backing Irrigation | Irrigation after flowering |
| Shade Tree | Tree planted to protect coffee plants |
20. Important One-Liners
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coffea arabica |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Origin of Arabica | Ethiopia |
| Introduced by | Baba Budan |
| Economic Part | Seeds (Beans) |
| Major Disease | Coffee Leaf Rust |
| Causal Organism | Hemileia vastatrix |
| Major Pest | White Stem Borer |
| Best Shade Tree | Silver Oak |
| Largest Producer | Brazil |
| Largest Indian Producer | Karnataka |
| Coffee Research Institute | CCRI, Balehonnur |
| Coffee Board HQ | Bengaluru |
| Self-pollinated Species | Arabica |
| Cross-pollinated Species | Robusta |
21. Frequently Asked PYQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Scientific name of coffee | Coffea arabica |
| Family of coffee | Rubiaceae |
| Origin of Arabica | Ethiopia |
| Coffee introduced in India by | Baba Budan |
| Major disease | Coffee Leaf Rust |
| Causal organism of rust | Hemileia vastatrix |
| Major pest | White Stem Borer |
| Largest coffee-producing state | Karnataka |
| Coffee Research Institute | CCRI, Balehonnur |
| Coffee Board Headquarters | Bengaluru |
⭐ Most Important Facts for Exams
| Topic | Remember |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coffea arabica |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Origin | Ethiopia (Arabica) |
| Introduced in India | Baba Budan |
| Economic Part | Seeds (Beans) |
| Major Disease | Coffee Leaf Rust |
| Causal Organism | Hemileia vastatrix |
| Major Pest | White Stem Borer |
| Shade Tree | Silver Oak (Grevillea robusta) |
| Largest Producer (World) | Brazil |
| Largest Producer (India) | Karnataka |
| Research Institute | CCRI, Balehonnur |
| Coffee Board HQ | Bengaluru |
| Arabica | Self-pollinated |
| Robusta | Cross-pollinated |