Identifying interspecific lines of coffee resistant to Hemileia vastatrix Berk. et Br. and evaluating their adaptability to the coffee growing region of Puerto Rico

Thirteen lines from the coffee germplasm collection of the Adjuntas Agricultural Experiment Substation, lines T-5175 and T-8667 from Costa Rica, and four advanced multilines from the Portugal Research Center for Coffee Rust (CIFC; ‘Centro de Investigación de la Roya del Café de Portugal’) were evaluated for resistance to Hemileia vastatrix and their performance under coffee production conditions in Puerto Rico. The evaluations were conducted in the laboratory and on selected coffee farms. Lines of “Catimor” and “Sarchimor” types were selected based on their reaction to the rust pathogen and excellent agronomic characteristics and named ‘Frontón’ and ‘Limaní’, respectively. Incidence of black beans was examined in red, medium and green beans and was significantly higher in line T-5175, in plantings <300 meters above sea level, and in medium ripe and green fruits. Catimor lines from the CIFC were superior to the check ‘Caturra’ in fruit production and yield of green coffee.