Genetic Parameters Of Production And Related Characteristics From A Diallele Crossing Plan For Coffea Arabica

Genetic analysis of different agronomic and vegetative traits was carried out of a half-diallel crossing scheme in Coffea arabica, located in the Foumbot experimental station of IRAD, Cameroon. The 7 x 7 half-diallel comprises 21 hybrid progenies and 7 parental self ed lines. Heritabilities and genetic correlations between the different characters were estimated. Hybrids were superior to lines for all the traits. There was no relationship between parental lines values and their general combining abilities. Caturra showed to be a high yielding variety and a good parent. On the other hand, Java, a variety selected in Cameroon, showed to be a good variety but a bad parent. Some traits, like the number of primary branches, were genetically correlated to yield and can therefore be used as a yield predictor. Ecovalences were also estimated in order to evaluate the relative participation of each parent to the Specific Combining Ability (interaction between parents). Java was the most interactive parent, which might indicate a higher level of heterozygosity of this variety.