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| [PHOTO: Special Arrangements] |
By Amit Guin*
Coffee connoisseurs from over the world were introduced to
the seeds of a new variety of Arabica plant called Chandragiri by the Central
Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) in December 2007. Since then, the ‘Brown
Gold’s’ aroma and flavour has magnetised the coffee lovers from different parts
of the world. The Chandragiri plant, which was introduced to the coffee
planters in India for commercial exploitation, received good response from them
and since then there has been a huge demand for the seed.
The folklore goes like this that around four hundred years
ago, a young saint named Baba Budan set sail for Mecca. Tired of travel, the
pilgrim stopped for some refreshment at a street stall, where he was dished out
a small cup of a dark, sweet liquid. Sipping the thick black brew rejuvenated
the young saint. He thereby decided to carry it back home for his people. But,
on the other hand, he also came to know that the Arabians guarded their secret
fiercely, and hence the local law would not allow him to carry it with him.
Hence, thereafter, Baba Budan strapped the seven seeds of the Arabian coffee
plant to his belly, undetected under his ritual garments. After coming to his
motherland, Baba Budan raised the seedlings in the Chandragiri hills of
Karnataka. Today those seven charming seeds have grown into different varities,
and has resulted in the world’s widest range of coffees from a single country.
The Chandragiri is a semi-dwarf variety, with its bush
growth vigorous in comparison to other dwarf coffee varieties like Cauvery and
San Ramon. Its leaves are broader, thick and dark green in colour. It is to be
noted that this variety produces relatively bolder and longer beans compared to
other Arabica selection.
It is interesting to note that the feedback from the coffee
growers on the field performance of this variety is very encouraging. The
genetic uniformity, the initial crop yields and the field tolerance to leaf
rust have also been reported to be good. Along with this, the majority of
growers used Chandragiri for gap filling purposes or interlined them in the
existing plots.
It has also been observed that if the ideal cultivation
practices are followed, then there is no significant difference with respect to
the yield performance of the various semi-dwarf varieties like Catuai x HDT and
Chandragiri. Apart from this, the Chandragiri variety followed by Catuai x HDT
manifest good field tolerance to rust compared to other semi-dwarf varieties.
The Chandragiri variety also has a definite advantage with respect to superior
grade percentages as over 70 per cent of the beans belong to 'A' grade on
average, of which 25- 30 per cent belong to AA grade with superior bean
density. When compared to other varieties, the per cent of 'A' grade beans
range between 60-65 per cent with 15-20 per cent AA grade.
The researchers have also observed that disease development
in the Chandragiri variety is very late compared to other semi-dwarf varieties.
Along with this, the disease severity is also low (less than 5 per cent). But when
it comes to tolerance to the coffee white stem borer, like all other Arabica
varieties, Chandragiri also does not possess genetic resistance to this major
pest. The white stem borer is the most serious pest of Arabica coffee in India
and other South East Asian countries. However, under ideal growing conditions
i.e. two tier mixed shade and above 1000 metres MSL (Main Sea level) i.e. 3300
ft, generally low incidence of the pest is noticed. This is because of the
vigorous bush stature with drooping branches and high retention of foliage due
to rust tolerance, which might act as a physical barrier to white stem borer
adults to attack the main stem. Maintenance of optimum shade (preferably two
tier shade) and regular tracing and destruction of the infested plants is a
must to control the pest. Further, other recommended pest management strategies
such as, 10 per cent lime application, use of pheromone traps and stem wrapping
etc. may be practiced depending on the necessity. (PIB Features.)
*Amit Guin is a freelance writer. Views expressed by him in
this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of http://news.BDTV.in.