Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection

The sensory quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) has become increasingly important and is considered the best way to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the sector. Given the narrow genetic base cultivated, the use of its genetic resources conserved in germplasm banks is particularly...

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Main Authors: Juan Carlos Arias-Suárez, Luisa Fernanda López-Monsalve, Rubén Darío Medina-Rivera, Claudia Patricia Flórez-Ramos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1497350/full
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author Juan Carlos Arias-Suárez
Luisa Fernanda López-Monsalve
Rubén Darío Medina-Rivera
Claudia Patricia Flórez-Ramos
author_facet Juan Carlos Arias-Suárez
Luisa Fernanda López-Monsalve
Rubén Darío Medina-Rivera
Claudia Patricia Flórez-Ramos
author_sort Juan Carlos Arias-Suárez
collection DOAJ
description The sensory quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) has become increasingly important and is considered the best way to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the sector. Given the narrow genetic base cultivated, the use of its genetic resources conserved in germplasm banks is particularly relevant, especially for germplasm collected in Ethiopia, the country from which coffee originated and the center of its diversity of profiles. However, the potential benefits of using these resources is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the sensory quality of the Ethiopian germplasm conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection (CCC) to determine its variability and potential for use. The sensory qualities of drinks from 378 accessions of CCC were characterized. The results showed that 34% of the accessions evaluated presented sensory descriptors different from those of the traditional varieties. For the Global Impression attribute, the highest scores were associated with citrus, spice and floral notes. Additionally, prospecting rather than the area of origin of the germplasm influenced its sensory diversity, possibly due to the established objectives of the collection. The conserved germplasm exhibited important sensory variability, which is linked to rare descriptors in traditional varieties. Characterization activities of genetic resources, such as those conducted in this study, add value and serve as an initial step toward their application in breeding. The results obtained allow the selection of genotypes with distinct sensory profiles, which can be incorporated into genetic improvement programs aimed at developing future varieties with these attributes.
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spelling doaj-art-b1c17c774a974131baa890d4d4b0335f2025-01-29T06:45:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-01-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.14973501497350Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee CollectionJuan Carlos Arias-Suárez0Luisa Fernanda López-Monsalve1Rubén Darío Medina-Rivera2Claudia Patricia Flórez-Ramos3Department of Plant Breeding, National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé), Manizales, ColombiaDepartment of Plant Breeding, National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé), Manizales, ColombiaDepartment of Biometrics, National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé), Manizales, ColombiaDepartment of Plant Breeding, National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé), Manizales, ColombiaThe sensory quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) has become increasingly important and is considered the best way to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the sector. Given the narrow genetic base cultivated, the use of its genetic resources conserved in germplasm banks is particularly relevant, especially for germplasm collected in Ethiopia, the country from which coffee originated and the center of its diversity of profiles. However, the potential benefits of using these resources is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the sensory quality of the Ethiopian germplasm conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection (CCC) to determine its variability and potential for use. The sensory qualities of drinks from 378 accessions of CCC were characterized. The results showed that 34% of the accessions evaluated presented sensory descriptors different from those of the traditional varieties. For the Global Impression attribute, the highest scores were associated with citrus, spice and floral notes. Additionally, prospecting rather than the area of origin of the germplasm influenced its sensory diversity, possibly due to the established objectives of the collection. The conserved germplasm exhibited important sensory variability, which is linked to rare descriptors in traditional varieties. Characterization activities of genetic resources, such as those conducted in this study, add value and serve as an initial step toward their application in breeding. The results obtained allow the selection of genotypes with distinct sensory profiles, which can be incorporated into genetic improvement programs aimed at developing future varieties with these attributes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1497350/fullgenetic resourcesplant breedingcoffee organoleptic qualitysensory variabilitycoffee breeding
spellingShingle Juan Carlos Arias-Suárez
Luisa Fernanda López-Monsalve
Rubén Darío Medina-Rivera
Claudia Patricia Flórez-Ramos
Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
genetic resources
plant breeding
coffee organoleptic quality
sensory variability
coffee breeding
title Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
title_full Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
title_fullStr Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
title_full_unstemmed Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
title_short Sensory characterization of the Ethiopian germplasm of Coffea arabica L. conserved in the Colombian Coffee Collection
title_sort sensory characterization of the ethiopian germplasm of coffea arabica l conserved in the colombian coffee collection
topic genetic resources
plant breeding
coffee organoleptic quality
sensory variability
coffee breeding
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1497350/full
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