Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

Pesquisas Agrárias e Ambientais

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31413/nativa.v9i1.11066 ISSN: 2318-7670

Morphophysiological characteristics of arabic coffee

Lucas Aparecido Manzani LISBOA1;2*, Matheus Luís Oliveira CUNHA2, Fernando Takayuki NAKAYAMA3,

Paulo Alexandre Monteiro de FIGUEIREDO2, Ronaldo da Silva VIANA2,

Sérgio Bispo RAMOS2, Samuel FERRARI2

1Fundation of Andradina (FEA), Andradina, SP, Brazil.

2São Paulo State University (Unesp), College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Dracena, SP, Brazil.

3Paulista Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA), Alta Paulista Regional Camp, Adamantina, SP, Brazil.

*E-mail: lucas.lisboa@unesp.br

(ORCID: 0000-0001-9013-232X; 0000-0001-8931-8557; 0000-0002-6405-7685; 0000-0003-4505-6975;

0000-0001-6819-5092; 0000-0002-4406-5792; 0000-0001-8542-204X)

Recebido em 02/09/2020; Aceito em 30/12/2020; Publicado em 10/02/2021.

ABSTRACT: The understanding of the behavior of each cultivar under adverse climatic conditions is

important in the choice of plants that best fit the region to be inserted. Due to the large number of cultivars

available on the market it makes it difficult for producers to choose which material to plant. In view of the

above, this study aimed to know the morphophysiological characteristics of coffee. The experimental design

was in randomized blocks with 10 treatments, that is, arabic coffee varieties: Catuai IAC62; Catuai IAC99; Ouro

IAC4397; Tupi RN IAC1669-13; Obatã IAC1669-20; Mundo Novo IAC379-24; Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-2;

Mundo Novo SH3 Faz São José; Bourbon IACJ15 and Icatu IAC 2944-11 and with four replications totaling

40 plots, where each plot was composed of seven plants. The Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-2 coffee variety shows

higher yield in the seventh year of cultivation. Variety of Bourbon IACJ15 coffee presented water use efficiency

(EUW) which did not reflect in higher productivity. The Catuai V IAC99 arabica coffee variety stood out in

the internal morphology of the leaves. The thickness of the adaxial and abaxial epidermis (TADE and TABE)

and the CO2 assimilation rate (A) showed negative correlations with the productivity of processed coffee bags.

Keywords: Coffea arabica; plant morphology; plant physiology; varieties.

Características morfofisiológicas do café arábico

RESUMO: O entendimento do comportamento de cada cultivar sob condições climáticas adversas é

importante na escolha das plantas que melhor se adaptam à região a ser inserida. Devido ao grande número de

cultivares disponíveis no mercado, torna-se difícil para o produtor escolher qual material plantar. Diante do

exposto, este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer as características morfofisiológicas do café. O delineamento

experimental foi em blocos casualizados com 10 tratamentos, ou seja, variedades de café arábico: Catuai IAC62;

Catuai IAC99; Ouro IAC4397; Tupi RN IAC1669-13; Obatã IAC1669-20; Mundo Novo IAC379-24; Mundo

Novo IAC 388-17-2; Mundo Novo SH3 Faz São José; Bourbon IACJ15 e Icatu IAC 2944-11 e com quatro

repetições totalizando 40 parcelas, sendo cada parcela composta por sete plantas. A variedade de café Mundo

Novo IAC 388-17-2 apresenta maior produtividade no sétimo ano de cultivo. A variedade de café Bourbon

IACJ15 apresentou eficiência no uso de água (EUW) o que não refletiu em maior produtividade. A variedade

de café arábica Catuai V IAC99 se destacou na morfologia interna das folhas. A espessura da epiderme adaxial

e abaxial (TADE e TABE) e a taxa de assimilação de CO2 (A) apresentaram correlações negativas com a

produtividade das sacas de café beneficiado.

Keywords: Coffea arabica; morfologia vegetal; fisiologia vegetal; variedades.

1. INTRODUCTION

Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of coffee

(Coffea Arabica L.), reaching about 30% of world production,

with approximately 2 million hectares planted in 2014

(AGRIANUAL, 2015). Only in the New High Paulista region

coffee cultivation was present in five thousand hectares and

approximately 65 thousand tons of grain were produced

(SANTOS et al., 2015). The national coffee park is made up

of 84% of the Coffea arabica species, accounting for 2.7% of

the total value of Brazilian exports (PINOTTI et al., 2009).

The importance of the coffee crop is evident, mainly because

of the extension of the cultivated area, the use of labor, the

generation of income in the properties, the foreign exchange

in the export (RENA et al., 1986).

As coffee cultivation presents an enormous variability of

climate, spacing, variety and nutritional, phytosanitary and

cultural management, it is recommended that it be carefully

applied and even analyzed under the aspect of seedling

survival (SANTINATO et al., 2008). The understanding of

the behavior of each cultivar under adverse climatic

conditions is important in the choice of plants that best fit

the region to be inserted. Due to the large number of cultivars

available on the market it makes it difficult for producers to

choose which material to plant.

Research that evaluates the physiological aspects together

with the agronomic aspects of coffee help in the discovery of

cultivars with characteristics of tolerance to environmental

stresses, pathogens, among others, in addition to assisting in

Lisboa et al.

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

the exploration of a greater number of genotypes in coffee

breeding programs (QUEIROZ-VOLTAN et al., 2014).

Leaf anatomy is directly influenced by environmental

factors, with the status of water in the plant being one of the

most important factors of leaf growth; therefore, leaf

morphology is a fundamental issue for agricultural

production (CASTRO et al., 2009). In view of the above, this

study aimed to know the morphophysiological characteristics

of coffee.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Characteristics of the experimental area

In April of 2011 an experiment was installed in the

Paulista Agribusiness Technology Agency, Regional Paulista

Regional Camp, located in the municipality of Adamantina,

State of São Paulo, with the following geographic

coordinates: 21°40'24.024 "S and 51°8'31.088" W, with an

approximate altitude of 420 m. The climate of the region is

characterized as Aw according to Köppen and Geiger, with

rainy summer and dry winter, with an average temperature of

22.1°C and a rainfall of 1204 mm per year.

The soil of the area was classified as Argissolo vermelho-

amarelo distrófico (EMBRAPA, 2013) with good drainage

and presented the chemical attributes according to Table 1.

Dolomitic limestone was applied in total area and the

planting was carried out after 15 days of its application, the

fertilization of planting was according to Raij et al. (1996).

2.2. Experimental design

The experimental design was in randomized blocks with

10 treatments, that is, arabic coffee varieties: Catuai IAC62;

Catuai IAC99; Ouro IAC4397; Tupi RN IAC1669-13; Obatã

IAC1669-20; Mundo Novo IAC379-24; Mundo Novo IAC

388-17-2; Mundo Novo SH3; Bourbon IACJ15 and Icatu

IAC 2944-11 and with four replications totaling 40 plots,

where each plot was composed of three plants. The planting

spacing of the seedlings was 0.90 x 3.0 m, making 3703

seedlings per hectare.

Table 1: Chemical attributes of the soil of the area of experiment in moment of the planting.

Tabela 1: Atributos químicos do solo da área de experimento no momento do plantio.

H+Al

CEC

CaCl

g dm

-3

mg dm

-3

------------------------------------------

mmol

-3

------------------------------------------

4.6

12.0

26.0

2.9

8.0

4.0

20.0

1.0

14.9

34.9

43.0

6.0

OM: organic matter; SB: Sum of bases; CEC: Cation exchange capacity; V%: Base saturation; m%:

Aluminum saturation.

2.3. Parameters evaluated

2.3.1. Yield of grains benefited

After seven years after planting coffee, the yield of grains

benefited, where the fruits were harvested in cherry stage in

seven plants of each plot and later, the conversion to the

productivity in bags of 60 kg of coffee benefited per hectare

was carried out, where the following formula was used

described by Mendes (1994):

YGB = 󰇣󰇡

∗,󰇢∗º

 󰇤

 (01)

where: YGB= Yield of grains benefited in bags of 60kg.

2.3.2. Gas Exchange Parameters

After seven years the following parameters were

determined, gas exchange was evaluated via non-destructive

analyses using a portable gas exchange device (Infra-Red Gas

Analyzer − IRGA, brand ADC BioScientific Ltd, model LC-

Pro). The following parameters were determined: CO2

assimilation rate expressed by area (A – μmol CO2 m−2 s−1),

transpiration (E – mmol H2O m−2 s−1), stomatal conductance

(gs – mol H2O m−2 s−1), and internal CO2 concentration in

the substomatal chamber (Ci – μmol mol−1) and use of water

(EUW), determined by the formula: EUW = A/E (μmol CO2

m−2 s−1 / mmol H2O m−2 s−1). The initial conditions imposed

for the measurements were 1000 μmol m−2 s−1 of

photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), provided by LED

lamps, 380 ppm of CO2, and a chamber temperature of 28

°C.

2.3.3. Leaf morphology

After seven years the following parameters were

determined, a leaf fragment was collected from each

evaluated plant, the first fully expanded leaf from a branch in

the central median region of the plant's crown was chosen.,.

The samples were transported to Laboratory of Vegetal

Morphophysiology and Forages at College of Agricultural

and Technological Sciences – São Paulo State University. The

collected material was immersed in F.A.A. 70 (formaldehyde

37%, acetic acid and 70% ethanol in the ratio of 1.0:1.0:18.0

– V/V). Twenty-four hours after, the fragments were washed

and stored in 70% ethanol until the date of the analyzes, as

described by Kraus and Arduim (1997). All fragments of

plant tissues were treated with the pertinent procedures for

dehydration, diaphanization, inclusion and embedding. By

using a microtome Leica that contains steel razors, eight-µm

transversal sections were done in each embedded fragment.

The first transversal sections without damage caused by

cut of plants tissues was chosen for preparation of the

histological slides. These sections were fixed with patches

(albumin), were tinted with safranin with a 1% ratio, and were

set in microscope and glass slides wih Entellan® patch

(KRAUS and ARDUIN, 1997).

All slides were observed with an Olympus optical

microscope; model BX 43, with a attached camera in order

to perform the photographs of the cuts. Pictures were used

to measure anatomic parameters through the software

cellSens Standart that was calibrated with a microscopic ruler

in the same gains.

By using transversal sections, the following ultrastructural

variables were measured: Phloem Diameter of Leaf (PDL);

Xylem Diameter of Leaf (XDL); thickness of adaxial

epidermis (TADE) and thickness of abaxial epidermis

(TABE) and Thickness of Palisade Parenchyma (PP). Ten

measurements were done for all characteristics in each

microscope slide. Plots were represented by average value

obtained on each characteristic.

2.4. Statistical analysis

In all of the datasets considered, the normality of the data

was analyzed using the Anderson-Darling test and

homoscedasticity was analyzed with the variance equation

test (or Levene’s test). The results were subjected to statistical

Morphophysiological characteristics of arabic coffee

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

analysis using Assistat 7.7 static software (SILVA and

AZEVEDO, 2016) system for Windows 7.0. The means

were compared using the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05)

(BANZATTO and KRONKA, 2013), by using.

3. RESULTS

It was observed that the productivity of arabica coffee

varieties showed significant differences. The varieties Mundo

Novo IAC 388-17-2 showed the highest yield of processed

grains, as shown in Table 2.

The evaluation of photosynthesis levels for Arabica

coffee varieties (Table 2) indicated that Mundo IAC 388-17-

2 (0.65 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1), Mundo Novo SH3 (0.82 mmol

CO2 m−2 s−1) and Icatu IAC 2944-11 (0.87 mmol CO2 m−2

s−1) had the lowest values observed. It is noted that there was

excessive variation in the results evaluated in this

characteristic.

It was observed that the internal CO2 concentration

varied according to the Arabica coffee varieties in the seventh

year after planting (Table 2). The varieties Catuai IAC99

(237.66 μmol mol−1) and Bourbon IACJ15 (218.75 μmol

mol−1) had the worst results, differing statistically from the

other varieties.

Analyzing the transpiration of coffee varieties in the

seventh after planting, it is noted that Mundo Novo IAC 388-

17-2 (2.44 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1) had prominence and higher

result of this variable when compared to the varieties Obatã

IAC 1669-20 (1.36 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1), Catuai IAC99 (1.06

mmol CO2 m−2 s−1), Bourbon IACJ15 (0.62 mmol CO2 m−2

s−1) and Icatu IAC 2944-11 (0.55 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1) as

shown in Table 3.

Table 2. Average values of yield of grains benefited (YGB); rate of photosynthesis (A) and internal CO2 concentration in the substomatal

chamber (Ci) of arabica coffee varieties.

Tabela 2. Valores médios de rendimento dos grãos beneficiados (YGB); taxa de fotossíntese (A) e concentração interna de CO2 na câmara

subestomática (Ci) de variedades de café arábica

YGB

(bags of 60kg)

(μmol CO

m−2 s−1)

(μmol mol−1)

Catuai IAC62

21.98d

2.19a

321.25a

Catuai IAC99

20.09d

1.82a

237.66b

Ouro IAC4397

21.22d

1.83a

326.41a

Tupi RN IAC1669

22.66d

1.52a

300.33a

Obatã IAC1669

24.35d

2.02a

280.91a

Mundo Novo IAC379

34.61c

2.51a

294.75a

Mundo Novo IAC 388

58.66a

0.65b

294.66a

Mundo Novo SH3

32.46c

0.82b

351.41a

Bourbon IACJ15

46.19b

2.02a

218.75b

Icatu IAC 2944

40.80b

0.87b

377.83a

32.30

1.62

300.40

CV (%)

22.18

27.54

27.93

p value

<0.0001

0.0164

0.0003

AO: Average overall; CV: coefficient of variation

Table 3. Average values of transpiration (E); stomata conductance (gs) and efficient use of water (EUW) of arabica coffee varieties.

Tabela 3. Valores médios de transpiração (E); condutância estomática (gs) e uso eficiente de água (EUW) de variedades de café arábica.

(mmol H2O m−2 s−1)

(mol H2O m−2 s−1)

EUW

Catuai IAC62

1.85a

0.05a

2.17b

Catuai IAC99

1.06c

0.02c

1.79b

Ouro IAC4397

1.89a

0.04a

1.09b

Tupi RN IAC1669

1.54b

0.03b

1.43b

Obatã IAC1669

1.36b

0.03b

1.02b

Mundo Novo

IAC379

1.54b

0.03b

1.43b

Mundo Novo IAC 388

2.44a

0.05a

2.14b

Mundo Novo SH3

2.14a

0.03b

0.44b

Bourbon IACJ15

0.62c

0.01d

5.78a

Icatu IAC 2944

0.55c

0.01d

1.95b

1.50

0.03

1.92

CV (%)

52.45

40.74

153.05

p value

0.0001

<0.0001

0.0039

AO: Average overall; CV: coefficient of variation

According to stomatal conductance averages, the

varieties Catuai IAC 62 (0.05 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1); Mundo

Novo IAC 388-17-2 (0.05 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1) and Ouro

IAC4397 (0.04 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1) had superior results

standing out when comparing with the varieties Catuai

IAC99 (0.02 mmol CO2 m−2 s−1), Bourbon IACJ15 (0.01

mmol CO2 m−2 s−1), and IAC 2944-11 (0.01 mmol CO2 m−2

s−1) that had low values of this characteristic.

For efficient water use, the Bourbon IACJ15 variety had

the highest result, standing out mainly when compared to the

Mundo Novo SH3 variety that presented the lowest value of

this trait. It is worth mentioning that the high variation

coefficient of the parameter efficient water use, occurred due

to the application of the formula that in some cases the

average values of some plants were negative, indicating that

the plant had closed stomata.

Lisboa et al.

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

According to the results obtained (Table 4) of phloem

diameter, the varieties Catuai IAC62 (7.40) and Tupi RN

IAC1669-13 (6.54) presented the best values, differing

statistically from the other cultivars.

The variety Catuaí Vermelho IAC99 stood out in terms

of thickness of adaxial epidermis and thickness of abaxial

epidermis.

Analyzing the palisade parenchyma thickness of coffee

cultivars, it was observed that the varieties IAC4397, Mundo

Novo IAC379-24 and Mundo Novo SH3 presented the

lowest results for this variable, being characterized as

cultivars that have low thickness of this parenchyma.

Figure 1 shows the internal leaf morphology of coffee

plant cultivars, where all the main.

Figure 2 shows the correlogram between the variables

evaluated in the Arabica coffee varieties.

Table 4 shows the significant linear regressions after

Pearson's correlation analysis. It is worth noting the positive

correlations between the rate of CO2 assimilation (A) with

stomatal conductance (gs) and efficient water use (EUW) and

negatively with the yields of benefited grains (YGB). A

positive correlation was observed between the xylem

diameter of the leaves (XDL) with the efficient use of water

(EUW).

Table 4. Average values of phloem diameter of leaf (PDL); xylem diameter of leaf (XDL); thickness of adaxial epidermis (TADE); thickness

of abaxial epidermis (TABE) and thickness of palisade parenchyma (PP) of arabica coffee varieties.

Tabela 4. Valores médios do diâmetro foliar do floema (PDL); diâmetro do xilema da folha (XDL); espessura da epiderme adaxial (TADE);

espessura da epiderme abaxial (TABE) e espessura do parênquima em paliçada (PP) de variedades de café arábica.

PDL

(µm)

XDL

(µm)

TADE

(µm)

TABE

(µm)

Catuai

A IAC62

7.40a

12.30a

24.55c

16.39b

38.95a

Catuai V IAC99

5.82b

12.93a

29.12a

18.30a

43.98a

Ouro A IAC4397

5.57b

12.68a

26.06b

16.11b

35.15b

Tupi RN IAC1669

6.54a

11.96a

25.13c

15.64c

43.17a

Obatã V IAC1669

5.72b

12.17a

28.02a

14.68c

39.78a

Mundo Novo IAC379

5.69b

11.63b

22.76c

14.06c

35.47b

Mundo Novo IAC 388

5.33b

11.05b

24.63c

15.44c

39.25a

Mundo Novo SH3

5.34b

11.12b

27.38b

14.80c

37.39b

Bourbon A IACJ15

5.49b

13.27a

27.06b

13.98c

41.46a

Icatu Amarelo

IAC2944

5.68b

9.93b

24.19c

14.57c

40.11a

AO:

5.86

11.91

25.89

15.40

39.47

CV%:

31.28

24.75

13.74

23.92

20.27

p value

0.0006

0.0009

0.0001

0.0004

0.0002

AO: Average overall; CV: coefficient of variation

Table 5. Matrix of significant linear regressions of Pearson's significant interactions of the variables analyzed in Arabica coffee varieties.

Tabela 5. Matriz de regressões lineares significativas das interações significativas de Pearson com as variáveis analisadas nas variedades de

café Arábica.

Y =

o +

p value

R²

ci =

y = 316.725374

9.28721405A

0.0156

0.0447

gs = 0.03047777 + 0.00222655A

0.0104

0.0546

EUW = 0.81264382 + 0.63532586A

<0.0001

0.1950

YGB = 34.4246494

1.20554625A

0.0305

0.0351

EUW = 4.48081086

0.00849324ci

0.0023

0.0672

gs = 0.00609816 + 0.01882156E

<0.0001

0.7630

EUW = 3.80820229

1.24979977E

<0.0001

0.1476

EUW = 3.13032152

34.9177823gs

0.0104

0.0535

XDL

EUW =

1.5058922 + 0.29039981XDL

0.0020

0.0725

TABE

YGB =

43.0950005

0.69946628TABE

0.0310

0.0388

TADE

YAB = 50.2769198

0.68814269TADE

0.0499

0.0150

4. DISCUSSION

Table 2 shows the variation in yield of the cultivars

analyzed in this research. This phenomenon can be explained

by the ability of the coffee culture, when the production is

proportional to the number of knots or buds formed in the

previous growing season, with high yields alternating with

low yields (NOGUEIRA and TRUGO, 2003). This is an

important characteristic for the genetic improvement of

plants, as it seeks to develop varieties with higher yields and

with little temporal variation. Varieties like Catuai amarelo

IAC62, Catuai vermelho IAC99 and Ouro IAC4397 are

undesirable in the coffee market from the productive point

of view, as they presented low yield.

Plant transpiration is a component of the energy balance

that determines leaf temperature, according to anatomical

factors of the leaves, environmental factors and biological

factors that determine the number and distribution of

stomata (LEUZINGER et al., 2010). According to Nunes et

al. (1968), the increase in leaf temperature may contribute to

a certain reduction in the values of stomatal conductance and

liquid photosynthesis rates, however, in this research, the

influence of increased breathing was not observed causing a

decrease in stomatal conductance.

Low stomatal conductance values lead to less CO2 inflow

into the chloroplasts causing reductions in photosynthetic

rates. The decrease in stomatal conductance (gs) indicates

that photosynthesis would not be restricted by stomatal

closure, nor by the concentration of CO2 within the sub-

stomatal chamber, but by other biochemical factors that

would be making it difficult to reduce the CO2 there (Marur

and Faria, 2008). The functioning of the stomata constitutes

a physiological compromise because, when opened, they

Morphophysiological characteristics of arabic coffee

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

allow the assimilation of CO2 and the loss of H2O. Closing,

it reduces the entry of CO2 to the rubisco carboxylation sites

inside the chloroplasts and conserves H2O, reducing the risk

of dehydration (TATAGIBA et al., 2015).

Figure 1. Internal leaf morphology of arabica coffee varieties. A: Catuai A IAC62; B: Catuai V IAC99; C: Ouro A IAC4397; D: Tupi RN

IAC1669-13; E: Obatã V IAC1669-20; F: Mundo Novo IAC379-24; G: Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-2; H: Mundo Novo SH3 Faz São José;

I: Bourbon A IACJ15 and J: Icatu Amarelo IAC 2944-11.

Figura 1. Morfologia interna da folha de variedades de café arábica. A: Catuai A IAC62; B: Catuai V IAC99; C: Ouro A IAC4397; D: Tupi

RN IAC1669-13; E: Obatã V IAC1669-20; F: Mundo Novo IAC379-24; G: Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-2; H: Mundo Novo SH3 Faz São

José; I: Bourbon A IACJ15 e J: Icatu Amarelo IAC 2944-11.

Among the physiological characteristics, which can be

explored in breeding programs, the efficiency of water use

stands out for nematode tolerance in conditions of water

deficiency (SILVA et al., 2013). According to the results

obtained with respect to the aforementioned variable, the

Bourbon IACJ15 variety is promising for future breeding

programs aimed at tolerance to nematode attack. The

efficiency of water use corresponds to the amount of carbon

fixed during photosynthesis for each water molecule lost

during this process, therefore, the control of stomatal

opening and closing is important to avoid excessive loss of

water in transpiration, allowing the use of CO2 accumulated

in sub-stomatal chambers and reducing water loss under

water deficit conditions (TAIZ et al., 2017). This trait of

Lisboa et al.

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

plants is a variable of relevant importance, as it reflects the

ability of the crop to tolerate conditions of low rainfall and

irregular distribution, as well as water

accumulation (PERAZZO et al., 2013).

Figure 2: Pearson's correlations between the variables evaluated in Arabica coffee varieties.; A: rate of photosynthesis; Ci: internal CO2

concentration in the substomatal chamber; E: Transpiration; gs: Stomata conductance; EUW: Efficient use of water. PDL: phloem diameter

of leaf; XDL: xylem diameter of leaf; TADE: thickness of adaxial epidermis; TABE: thickness of abaxial epidermis; PP: thickness of palisade

parenchyma (PP) and YGB: yield of grains benefited.

Figura 2: Correlações de Pearson entre as variáveis avaliadas nas variedades de café arábica. A: taxa de fotossíntese; Ci: concentração interna

de CO2 na câmara subestomática; E: Transpiração; gs: condutância estomática; EUW: Uso eficiente da água. PDL: diâmetro do floema da

folha; XDL: diâmetro do xilema da folha; TADE: espessura da epiderme adaxial; TABE: espessura da epiderme abaxial; PP: espessura do

parênquima paliçádico (PP) e YGB: rendimento de grãos beneficiado.

The efficiency of water use in plants is directly related to

the functioning of the stomatal apparatus, since it

corresponds to the ratio between the amount of CO2

assimilated and the amount of water transpired by the plant.

In the case of C3 plants, as is the coffee plant, stomatal

resistance causes a decrease in the photosynthetic rate due to

the high CO2 compensation point for this group of plants

(TAIZ et al., 2017).

Regarding the results of the phloem diameter, changes in

phloem in terms of diameter, quantity, vessel area and other

factors significantly influence photosynthesis, growth and

development. When the plant has a more evolved xylem or

in greater numbers, the supply of unprocessed sap supplied

to the leaves of the plant canopies becomes more efficient,

which does not compromise its physiological parameters.

Thus, phloem also starts to perform more efficiently its

distribution of sap elaborated to the other parts of the plant,

thus being able to guarantee greater productivity (Castro et

al., 2009).

Carvalho et al. (2001) evaluating the morphological

aspects of Catuai Vermelho showed greater thickness of the

leaves of Catuaí Vermelho with greater values of thickness of

the epidermis and palisade and lacunous parenchyma. The

authors found that the thickness of the abaxial and adaxial

epidermis, and the palisade and lacunous parenchyma,

contributed to the greater total leaf thickness. The data

corroborate with that obtained in this research since this

cultivar obtained the highest values of thickness of adaxial

epidermis, thickness of abaxial epidermis and thickness of

palisade parenchyma.

The greater thickness of the palisade parenchyma, which

is a tissue rich in chloroplasts and the main tissue related to

photosynthesis, can therefore favor the growth and

development of plants (CASTRO et al., 2009). The higher

values for the palisade parenchyma can give a greater

photosynthetic capacity to the genotypes that exhibit them,

being a favorable factor in conditions of high incident

radiation (RIBEIRO et al., 2012).

The results of the positive correlations between the rate

of CO2 assimilation (A) with stomatal conductance (gs) and

efficient water use (EUW) and negatively with the yields of

benefited grains (YGB) were already expected, because with

the increase in the CO2 assimilation rate, the stomatal

conductance (gs) increased, which implied a greater opening

of the stomatal cleft and thus provided a greater gas

exchange, thus increasing the efficient use of water (EUW),

as it required less amount of water to fix more CO2.

Therefore, when a lower CO2 assimilation rate occurs, it

reduces the grain yield (BELLASIO et al., 2017).

A positive correlation between the xylem diameter of the

leaves (XDL) with the efficient use of water (EUW) which

was already expected, because with the increase in the

Morphophysiological characteristics of arabic coffee

Nativa, Sinop, v. 9, n. 1, p. 36-43, jan./fev. 2021.

diameter of the vessels, there is a greater transport and

availability of unprocessed sap for the leaves (Pfautsch et al.,

2015; Brodersen, 2016). It is clear that the thickness of the

epidermis (TABE and TADE) had a negative influence on

the production of processed grains (YGB) demonstrating

that with a greater thickness it can influence the passage of

light beams until reaching the chloroplasts present in the

palisade parenchyma (PP), o may have caused a lower rate of

photosynthesis than, consequently, yield, as this correlation

between AxYGB was also observed as mentioned previously.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The Arabica coffee variety Mundo Novo IAC 388-17-2

shows higher productivity of grain bags benefited in the

seventh year of cultivation.

Variety of Bourbon IACJ15 coffee presented water use

efficiency (EUW) which did not reflect in higher

productivity.

The Catuai V IAC99 arabica coffee variety stood out in

the internal morphology of the leaves.

The thickness of the adaxial and abaxial epidermis

(TADE and TABE) and the CO2 assimilation rate (A)

showed negative correlations with the productivity of

processed coffee bags.

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