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Coffea

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This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 15 November 2024.
This article is about the biology of coffee plants. For the beverage, see Coffee.

Coffea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. Coffea species are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. The seeds of some species, called coffee beans, are used to flavor various beverages and products. The fruits, like the seeds, contain a large amount of caffeine, and have a distinct sweet taste.

Coffea
Flowering branches of Coffea arabica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Tribe: Coffeeae
Genus: Coffea
L.
Type species
Coffea arabica
Synonyms[1]
  • Buseria T. Durand
  • Cafe Adans.
  • Cofeanthus A.Chev.
  • Hexepta Raf.
  • Leiochilus Hook. f.
  • Nescidia A. Rich.
  • Paracoffea J.-F.Leroy
  • Paolia Chiov.
  • Pleurocoffea Baill.
  • Psilanthopsis A. Chev.
  • Psilanthus Hook.f.
  • Solenixora Baill.
Coffea canephora

The plant ranks as one of the world's most valuable and widely traded commodity crops and is an important export product of several countries, including those in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. The coffee trade relies heavily on two of the over 120 species, Coffea arabica (commonly known simply as "Arabica"), which accounts for 60–80% of the world's coffee production, and Coffea canephora (known as "Robusta"), which accounts for about 20–40%.[2][3]

Both coffee species are vulnerable to shifts, caused by climate change, in their growing zones, which are likely to result in a decline in production in some of the most important growing regions.[4][5][6]

Cultivation and use

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Main article: Coffee production
 
Freshly harvested coffee cherries
 
Coffea fruits, Bali

There are over 130 species of Coffea, which is grown from seed. The two most popular are Coffea arabica (commonly known simply as "Arabica"), which accounts for 60–80% of the world's coffee production, and Coffea canephora (known as "Robusta"), which accounts for about 20–40%.[2][3] C. arabica is preferred for its sweeter taste, while C. canephora has a higher caffeine content. C. arabica has its origins in the highlands of Ethiopia and the Boma Plateau of Sudan, and came about as the result of a hybrid between C. canephora and C. eugenioides.[7]

The trees produce edible red or purple fruits that are either epigynous berries or indehiscent drupes.[8] The fruit is often referred to as a "coffee cherry", and it contains two seeds, called "coffee beans".[9] Despite these terms, coffee is neither a true cherry (the fruit of certain species in the genus Prunus) nor a true bean (seeds from plants in the family Fabaceae).

In any coffee crop, about 5–10% of fruits contain only a single bean. Called a peaberry, it is smaller and rounder than a normal coffee bean.

When grown in the tropics, coffee is a vigorous bush or small tree that usually grows to a height of 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft). Most commonly cultivated coffee species grow best at high elevations, but do not tolerate freezing temperatures.[10]

The Coffea arabica tree grows fruit after three to five years, producing for an average of 50 to 60 years, though up to 100 years is possible.[11] The white flowers are highly scented. The fruit takes about nine months to ripen.

 
Coffea flower
 
Pollen grains of Coffee plant
 
Coffea fruit cross section
 
Coffea racemosa fruits
 
Coffea arabica beans germinating
 
Coffea arabica flowers
 
Ripe Coffea arabica fruits
 
Beans inside a Coffea arabica fruit
 
Coffea branches

Ecology

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The caffeine in coffee beans serves as a toxic substance that protects against insects and other pests, a form of natural plant defense against herbivory. Caffeine simultaneously attracts pollinators, specifically honeybees, by creating an olfactory memory that signals bees to return to the plant's flowers.[12] Not all Coffea species contain caffeine, and the earliest species had little or no caffeine content. Caffeine has evolved independently in multiple lineages of Coffea in Africa, perhaps in response to high pest predation in the humid environments of West-Central Africa.[12]

Caffeine has also evolved independently in the more distantly related genera Theobroma (cacao) and Camellia (tea).[13] This suggests that caffeine production is an adaptive trait in coffee and plant evolution. The fruit and leaves also contain caffeine, and can be used to make coffee cherry tea and coffee-leaf tea. The fruit is also used in many brands of soft drink as well as pre-packaged teas.[14][15][16][17]

Several insect pests affect coffee production, including the coffee borer beetle (Hypothenemus hampei) and the coffee leafminer (Leucoptera caffeina).

Coffee is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, Dalcera abrasa, turnip moth and some members of the genus Endoclita, including E. damor and E. malabaricus.

Research

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New species of Coffea are still being identified in the 2000s. In 2008 and 2009, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, named seven from the mountains of northern Madagascar, including C. ambongensis, C. boinensis, C. labatii, C. pterocarpa, C. bissetiae, and C. namorokensis.[18]

In 2008, two new species were discovered in Cameroon: Coffea charrieriana, which is caffeine-free, and Coffea anthonyi.[19] By crossing the new species with other known coffees, two new features might be introduced to cultivated coffee plants: beans without caffeine and self-pollination.

In 2011, Coffea absorbed the twenty species of the former genus Psilanthus due to the morphological and genetic similarities between the two genera.[20] Historically, the two have been considered distinct genera due to differences in the length of the corolla tube and the anther arrangement: Coffea with a short corolla tube and exserted style and anthers; Psilanthus with a long corolla tube and included anthers. However, these characteristics were not present in all species of either respective genus, making the two genera overwhelmingly similar in both morphology and genetic sequence. This transfer expanded Coffea from 104 species to 124, and extended its native distribution to tropical Asia and Australasia.

The coffee genome was published in 2014, with more than 25,000 genes identified. This revealed that coffee plants make caffeine using a different set of genes from those found in tea, cacao and other such plants.[21]

A robust and almost fully resolved phylogeny of the entire genus was published in 2017.[12] In addition to resolving the relationships of Coffea species, this study's results suggest Africa or Asia as the likely ancestral origin of Coffea and point to several independent radiations across Africa, Asia, and the Western Indian Ocean Islands.

In 2020, a technique of DNA fingerprinting, or genetic authentication of plant material, was proven effective for coffee.[22] For the study, scientists used DNA extraction and SSR marker analysis. This technique or similar ones may allow for several improvements to coffee production such as improved information for farmers as to the susceptibility of their coffee plants to pests and disease, a professionalized coffee seed system, and transparency and traceability for buyers of green, un-roasted coffee.

Species

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As of May 2024, Plants of the World Online includes:[1]

  1. Coffea abbayesii J.-F. Leroy
  2. Coffea affinis De Wild.
  3. Coffea alleizettii Dubard
  4. Coffea ambanjensis J.-F. Leroy
  5. Coffea ambongenis J.-F. Leroy ex A. P. Davis
  6. Coffea andrambovatensis J.-F. Leroy
  7. Coffea ankaranensis J.-F. Leroy ex A. P. Davis
  8. Coffea anthonyi Stoff. & F. Anthony
  9. Coffea arabica L.
  10. Coffea arenesiana J.-F. Leroy
  11. Coffea augagneurii Dubard
  12. Coffea bakossii Cheek & Bridson
  13. Coffea benghalensis B. Heyne ex Schult.
  14. Coffea bertrandii A. Chev.
  15. Coffea betamponensis Portères & J.-F. Leroy
  16. Coffea bissetiae A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  17. Coffea boinensis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  18. Coffea boiviniana A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  19. Coffea bonnieri Dubard
  20. Coffea brassii (J.-F. Leroy) A. P. Davis
  21. Coffea brevipes Hiern
  22. Coffea bridsoniae A. P. Davis & Mvungi
  23. Coffea buxifolia A. Chev.
  24. Coffea callmanderi A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  25. Coffea canephora ("Coffea robusta") Pierre ex A. Froehner
  26. Coffea carrissoi A. Chev.
  27. Coffea charrieriana Stoff. & F. Anthony
  28. Coffea cochinchinensis Pierre ex Pit.
  29. Coffea commersoniana (Baill.) A. Chev.
  30. Coffea congensis A. Froehner
  31. Coffea costatifructa Bridson
  32. Coffea coursiana J.-F. Leroy
  33. Coffea dactylifera Robbr. & Stoff.
  34. Coffea darainensis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  35. Coffea decaryana J.-F. Leroy
  36. Coffea dubardii Jum.
  37. Coffea ebracteolata (Hiern) Brenan
  38. Coffea eugenioides S. Moore
  39. Coffea fadenii Bridson
  40. Coffea farafanganensis J.-F. Leroy
  41. Coffea floresiana Boerl.
  42. Coffea fotsoana Stoff. & Sonké
  43. Coffea fragilis J.-F. Leroy
  44. Coffea fragrans Wall. ex Hook. f.
  45. Coffea gallienii Dubard
  46. Coffea grevei Drake ex A. Chev.
  47. Coffea heimii J.-F. Leroy
  48. Coffea × heterocalyx Stoff.
  49. Coffea homollei J.-F. Leroy
  50. Coffea horsfieldiana Miq.
  51. Coffea humbertii J.-F. Leroy
  52. Coffea humblotiana Baill.
  53. Coffea humilis A. Chev.
  54. Coffea jumellei J.-F. Leroy
  55. Coffea kalobinonensis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  56. Coffea kapakata (A. Chev.) Bridson
  57. Coffea kianjavatensis J.-F. Leroy
  58. Coffea kihansiensis A. P. Davis & Mvungi
  59. Coffea kimbozensis Bridson
  60. Coffea kivuensis Lebrun
  61. Coffea labatii A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  62. Coffea lancifolia A. Chev.
  63. Coffea lebruniana Germ. & Kester
  64. Coffea leonimontana Stoff.
  65. Coffea leroyi A. P. Davis
  66. Coffea liaudii J.-F. Leroy ex A. P. Davis
  67. Coffea liberica Hiern
  68. Coffea ligustroides S. Moore
  69. Coffea littoralis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  70. Coffea lulandoensis Bridson
  71. Coffea mabesae (Elmer) J.-F. Leroy
  72. Coffea macrocarpa A. Rich.
  73. Coffea madurensis Teijsm. & Binn. ex Koord.
  74. Coffea magnistipula Stoff. & Robbr.
  75. Coffea malabarica (Sivar., Biju & P. Mathew) A.P.Davis
  76. Coffea mangoroensis Portères
  77. Coffea mannii (Hook. f.) A. P. Davis
  78. Coffea manombensis A. P. Davis
  79. Coffea mapiana Sonké, Nguembou & A P. Davis
  80. Coffea mauritiana Lam.
  81. Coffea mayombensis A. Chev.
  82. Coffea mcphersonii A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  83. Coffea melanocarpa Welw. ex Hiern
  84. Coffea merguensis Ridl.
  85. Coffea microdubardii A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  86. Coffea millotii J.-F. Leroy
  87. Coffea minutiflora A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  88. Coffea mogenetii Dubard
  89. Coffea mongensis Bridson
  90. Coffea montekupensis Stoff.
  91. Coffea montis-sacri A. P. Davis
  92. Coffea moratii J.-F. Leroy ex A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  93. Coffea mufindiensis Hutch. ex Bridson
  94. Coffea myrtifolia (A.Rich. ex DC.) J.-F. Leroy
  95. Coffea namorokensis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  96. Coffea neobridsoniae A. P. Davis
  97. Coffea neoleroyi A. P. Davis
  98. Coffea perrieri Drake ex Jum. & H. Perrier
  99. Coffea pervilleana (Baill.) Drake
  100. Coffea pocsii Bridson
  101. Coffea pseudozanguebariae Bridson
  102. Coffea pterocarpa A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  103. Coffea pustulata A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  104. Coffea racemosa Lour.
  105. Coffea rakotonasoloi A. P. Davis
  106. Coffea ratsimamangae J.-F. Leroy ex A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  107. Coffea resinosa (Hook. f.) Radlk.
  108. Coffea rhamnifolia (Chiov.) Bridson
  109. Coffea richardii J.-F. Leroy
  110. Coffea rizetiana Stoff. & Noirot
  111. Coffea rupicola A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  112. Coffea sahafaryensis J.-F. Leroy
  113. Coffea sakarahae J.-F. Leroy
  114. Coffea salvatrix Swynn. & Philipson
  115. Coffea sambavensis J.-F. Leroy ex A. P Davis & Rakotonas.
  116. Coffea sapinii (De Wild.) A. P. Davis
  117. Coffea schliebenii Bridson
  118. Coffea semsei (Bridson) A. P. Davis
  119. Coffea sessiliflora Bridson
  120. Coffea stenophylla G. Don
  121. Coffea tetragona Jum. & H. Perrier
  122. Coffea togoensis A. Chev.
  123. Coffea toshii A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  124. Coffea travancorensis Wight & Arn.
  125. Coffea tricalysioides J.-F. Leroy
  126. Coffea tsirananae J.-F. Leroy
  127. Coffea vatovavyensis J.-F. Leroy
  128. Coffea vavateninensis J.-F. Leroy
  129. Coffea vianneyi J.-F. Leroy
  130. Coffea vohemarensis A. P. Davis & Rakotonas.
  131. Coffea wightiana Wall. ex Wight & Arn.
  132. Coffea zanguebariae Lour.

References

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  1. ^ a b Plants of the World Online: Coffea L. (retrieved 31 May 2024)
  2. ^ a b "Coffee Plant: Arabica and Robusta". Coffee Research Institute. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Coffee: World Markets and Trade" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Service. 16 June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. ^ Läderach, Peter; Ramirez–Villegas, Julian; Navarro-Racines, Carlos; Zelaya, Carlos; Martinez–Valle, Armando; Jarvis, Andy (26 October 2016). "Climate change adaptation of coffee production in space and time". Climatic Change. 141 (1): 47–62. doi:10.1007/s10584-016-1788-9. ISSN 0165-0009.
  5. ^ Moat, Justin; Williams, Jenny; Baena, Susana; Wilkinson, Timothy; Gole, Tadesse W.; Challa, Zeleke K.; Demissew, Sebsebe; Davis, Aaron P. (19 June 2017). "Resilience potential of the Ethiopian coffee sector under climate change". Nature Plants. 3 (7): 17081. doi:10.1038/nplants.2017.81. ISSN 2055-0278. PMID 28628132. S2CID 6873955.
  6. ^ Worland, Justin (21 June 2018). "Your Morning Cup of Coffee Is in Danger. Can the Industry Adapt in Time?". Time. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ Lashermes, P.; Combes, M.-C.; Robert, J.; Trouslot, P.; D'Hont, A.; Anthony, F.; Charrier, A. (1999). "Molecular characterisation and origin of the Coffea arabica L. genome". Molecular and General Genetics. 261 (2): 259–266. doi:10.1007/s004380050965. PMID 10102360. S2CID 7978085.
  8. ^ Davis, Aaron P.; Govaerts, Rafael; Bridson, Diane M. & Stoffelen, Piet (2006). "An annotated taxonomic conspectus of the genus Coffea (Rubiaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 152 (4): 465–512. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2006.00584.x.
  9. ^ "What is Coffee?". www.ncausa.org. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  10. ^ Petek, Marcos Rafael; Sera, Tumoru; Alteia, Marcos Zorzenon (January 2005). "Genetic variability for frost resistance among Coffea accessions assessed in the field and in a cold chamber". Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 48 (1): 15–21. doi:10.1590/S1516-89132005000100003.
  11. ^ "Coffee bean: commodity factsheet" (PDF). Mintec. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Hamon, Perla; Grover, Corrinne E.; Davis, Aaron P.; Rakotomalala, Jean-Jacques; Raharimalala, Nathalie E.; Albert, Victor A.; Sreenath, Hosahalli L.; Stoffelen, Piet; Mitchell, Sharon E.; Couturon, Emmanuel; Hamon, Serge; de Kochko, Alexandre; Crouzillat, Dominique; Rigoreau, Michel; Sumirat, Ucu; Akaffou, Sélastique & Guyot, Romain (2017). "Genotyping-by-sequencing provides the first well-resolved phylogeny for coffee (Coffea) and insights into the evolution of caffeine content in its species: GBS coffee phylogeny and the evolution of caffeine content". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 109: 351–361. Bibcode:2017MolPE.109..351H. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.02.009. PMID 28212875.
  13. ^ Denoeud, France; et al. (5 September 2014). "The coffee genome provides insight into the convergent evolution of caffeine biosynthesis". Science. 345 (6201): 1181–1184. Bibcode:2014Sci...345.1181D. doi:10.1126/science.1255274. PMID 25190796.
  14. ^ Selby, Craig (31 May 2019). "SlimCafe is no longer available". SlimFast.
  15. ^ "Coffeeberry Cascara – Soluble, Sustainable | FutureCeuticals". www.futureceuticals.com.
  16. ^ "Starbucks". stories.starbucks.com.
  17. ^ "Brazilian Cascara". Dwellers Coffee. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Seven species of wild coffee amongst Kew's haul of new discoveries". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016.
  19. ^ Stoffelen, Piet; Noirot, Michel; Couturon, Emmanuel; Anthony, François (2008). "A new caffeine-free coffee from Cameroon". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 158 (1): 67–72. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00845.x.
  20. ^ Davis, A.P.; Tosh, J.; Ruch, N.; Fay, M.F. (2011). "Growing coffee: Psilanthus (Rubiaceae) subsumed on the basis of molecular and morphological data; implications for the size, morphology, distribution and evolutionary history of Coffea". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 167 (4): 357–377. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01177.x.
  21. ^ Callaway, Ewen (4 September 2014). "Coffee got its buzz by a different route than tea". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature.2014.15832. S2CID 168085931.
  22. ^ Pruvot-Woehl, Solène; Krishnan, Sarada; Solano, William; Schilling, Tim; Toniutti, Lucile; Bertrand, Benoit; Montagnon, Christophe (1 April 2020). "Authentication of Coffea arabica Varieties through DNA Fingerprinting and its Significance for the Coffee Sector". Journal of AOAC International. 103 (2): 325–334. doi:10.1093/jaocint/qsz003. ISSN 1060-3271. PMID 33241280. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
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