For Plant Genetic Origin Conservation
“Science and Technology” examines all necessary scientific strategies to protect the coffee tree from extinction and decay
A KACST research team is currently conducting a scientific study entitled “Preservation of KSA coffee tree origins: environmental and systematic properties and economic importance”. The team intends to help protect the genetic origins of this tree from extinction, and conduct an economic feasibility study on the topic.
The team surveyed many coffee tree plantations in the Southern Western past of the Kingdom, including Jazan, where the Fifa and Bani Malik mountains as well as Mount Talan were particularly examined. The team also visited in Assir the “Reida” preservation, “Jaw Ghamrah”, Al-Gheel valley, in addition to Al-Baha region, where the team visited Shada-al-A’ala. The purpose of the visits was to examine the geographic distribution of Coffee tree plantations (surface of each plantation, number of trees planted in each plantation, tree productivity (kg) and gross production per plantation).
Research Team leader Dr. Turki bin Ali Al-Turki indicated that the study showed that there are two kinds of Coffee trees growing in the Kingdom: the Arabica Coffee tree and the African Coffee tree. The Arabica Coffee tree is considered to be the finest and most expensive from a commercial point of view given its high productivity and quality, while the African Coffee tree is the least popular and cheapest kind, as it yields beans of lesser quality.
Dr. Turki also noted that there are many Arabica Coffee tree plantations dispersed across high altitudes in the mountains of the Southwestern part of the Kingdom, exceeding one hundred and fifty plantations. He added that the field visits had not been completed yet, and that the plantations spread over 300-400 square meters each. The Arabica Coffee tree grows at an altitude of 1230 to 1720 meters across most of the mountains of the Southern Western part of the Kingdom.
Furthermore, Dr. Turki said that the African Coffee tree only grew at lower elevations not exceeding 1210 meters. It was observed only at the Fifa Mountains in Jazan, with a productivity of 5 kg per tree which can increase to 14 kg with access to significant quantities of water. During periods of drought however productivity decreases to 3.2 kg per tree. It also decreases as the tree ages. The team noted that there are many old trees more than a hundred years old in many of these plantations.
The research team is proposing a number of strategies meant to conserve the genetic origins of the coffee tree, and to save it from decay and extinction. These strategies include establishing natural preservations in mountain areas to grow coffee trees, as well as encouraging farmers to grow coffee trees, and removing all existing obstacles to these farmers (transportation, coffee harvest marketing, etc…).
The team also suggests storing coffee bean seeds in plant gene banks, to help store healthy grains for an extended time period, and facilitate access and distribution amongst cultivators.
The team stresses the success of growing coffee from seeds in greenhouses without chemical factors at the Mzahmiah research station affiliated with KACST. It appears that these seeds have the ability to germinate 45 days after being planted. The germination process is a vital and crucial phase in the plant life cycle.
Dr. Turki warned that coffee tree seed lasted no more than two months before the embryonic plant died- a fact which needs to be taken into consideration. These seeds are hence dried for two weeks after which they must be quickly planted. Coffee seedlings, no more than 4 months old, have also begun to germinate in these greenhouses.
Lab experiments have also shown that the seeds of the Arabic Coffee tree have the ability to germinate in a wide thermal range with alternate and constant temperatures (5-50 DC). These seeds also have the ability to germinate at various salinity levels at temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 DC.